The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received support from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for the new hybrid plan for Asia Cup 2023, which is a positive development. The proposal regarding the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has been submitted by Najam Sethi, the PCB chairman. The proposal will be evaluated by ACC President Jay Shah, who also serves as the BCCI secretary, within the next 48 hours before a decision is made. The possibility of India boycotting the tournament cannot be ruled out, given BCCI’s unwavering stance on relocating the entire event.
What proposals does PCB have?
Proposal 1: Pakistan would host all games, while India would play its games at a neutral site.
Proposal 2: The tournament is split into two phases, with Pakistan hosting the first round of matches and India playing all of their matches at a neutral site in the second phase. The final will also be held at a neutral venue.
The proposal has not been seen by me. But nothing has changed regarding our position. The preference is for the tournament to occur at a location that is impartial rather than the UAE. With the kind of heat there, we can’t take a chance on any more accidents. Best suited for the competition is Sri Lanka. We haven’t yet discussed boycotting it in any detail. We’ll make a decision after we have a better understanding of the circumstances, a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
It should be noted that PCB’s “hybrid” model had been rejected by BCCI. BCCI requested for relocation of the entire venue to a neutral location, with a preference for Sri Lanka. BCCI’s assertions were supported by Sri Lanka Cricket, while PCB’s verdict was upheld by Bangladesh Cricket Board. The PCB issued a warning to cancel the Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral Test series.
The BCCI’s unyielding stance is resulting in a gradual decline in its backing. According to GeoTV, support for the hybrid model has been received by Pakistan from SLC and BCB. The nation of Afghanistan maintained a neutral stance. However, due to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s provision of a bilateral series in the United Arab Emirates in the previous month, it is probable that Pakistan shall receive their backing.
BCCI’s stance on a neutral venue remains unchanged. The BCCI has confirmed that India will not be traveling to Pakistan under any circumstances, including the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket diplomacy has been employed by PCB as a means of addressing the ineffectiveness of World Cup boycott threats.
An emergency meeting has been scheduled by ACC this week to deliberate on the two proposals. An ultimate determination regarding that matter is anticipated to be made by the conclusion of the current month. BCCI remains resolute in its determination to hold matches at a neutral venue.
“As you can see, for this to proceed, all 5 countries must agree. The reason we want the tournament completely moved outside is for everyone’s safety given the political unrest in Pakistan. Further insights will be gained during the upcoming meeting with other stakeholders“, as stated by the BCCI official
The tournament faced the possibility of a boycott by Pakistan subsequent to the BCCI’s dismissal of the initial hybrid model proposal. PCB initiated a discussion regarding the potential of a tri-nation series in the event that the Asia Cup is cancelled or if Pakistan decides to boycott the tournament.