Pakistan gets Bangladesh & Sri Lanka’s support for hybrid model: Asia Cup 2023

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.

Asia Cup 2023 proposal Venue to host India matches

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.

Sri Lanka can host Asia Cup 2023 as Pakistan’s hybrid model rejected: Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India declined to dispatch their team across the border, while the Gulf region was eliminated as a potential venue due to the excessive heat anticipated in September.

Asia Cup 2023: The Asia Cup is anticipated to be held in Sri Lanka as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) intends to relocate the competition from Pakistan. The potential relocation of the event from its initial host country was a likely consideration following the statement made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, indicating that the Indian team would not embark on a journey across the border.

The tournament’s venue decision is anticipated to be made by the conclusion of this month. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are in favor of holding the event in the island nation. The current status of Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament remains uncertain, as there are indications that they may choose to abstain from participating.

The PCB is expressing interest in hosting the tournament domestically, but the BCCI is receiving backing from other ACC members, making the decision appear inevitable. The PCB suggested a hybrid model for hosting the Asia Cup after the BCCI declined to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, citing insufficient clearance from the government. As per the proposal, only India’s matches would be held in Dubai.

The proposal in question has failed to garner any interest, and the tournament broadcaster has also voiced apprehensions regarding it. Additionally, due to September being the height of summer in the United Arab Emirates, the other boards expressed concerns regarding participating in the Gulf region merely a month before the 50-over World Cup. At a recent informal gathering of the ACC members, it has been reported that Oman expressed interest in hosting the tournament. However, after careful consideration of the prevailing circumstances, Sri Lanka has been deemed a suitable location.

During the September of 2018, Dubai was the host of the Asia Cup, where the players faced highly demanding conditions. During the tournament, Hardik Pandya suffered a back injury. With the World Cup scheduled to commence in the first week of October and teams eager to utilize the Asia Cup as a form of preparation, the UAE has been completely eliminated as an option.

The main concern regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup in 2023:

Historically, the IPL has been organized by the BCCI in September (2020). However, even matches that were held during the latter part of the summer season posed challenges for players.The participation of Pakistan is uncertain.

The ACC is currently considering the final decision regarding the tournament, as teams are cautious about risking players in extreme heat. Additionally, Sri Lanka Cricket has expressed interest in hosting the tournament. If the event were to take place in Sri Lanka, Dambulla and Pallekele could serve as potential venues due to the monsoon season typically occurring in Colombo during September.

The impact of this event on the forthcoming World Cup is yet to be determined. Intelligence suggests that if the Asia Cup is relocated from Pakistan, the PCB may opt out of the tournament, according to reports. The potential decision to skip the aforementioned tournament may raise doubts regarding their involvement in the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to take place in India during October and November.

The Asia Cup of 2022 was won by Sri Lanka, which was played in the T20 format as it preceded the T20 World Cup in Australia. The tournament alternates between 20 and 50-over formats based on the upcoming ICC event. The upcoming game will be conducted in a 50-over structure. In the previous instance of the tournament held in the 50-over format, India emerged victorious by defeating Bangladesh in the final match held in Dubai.

In the event of Pakistan’s confirmation, the Asia Cup would comprise six teams. Nepal has secured a spot in the tournament by emerging victorious in the ACC’s Premier Cup, alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

The proposed schedule for the tournament is from September 2 to 17.

Teams are qualified for Asia Cup:

India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan(unclear)

Asia Cup 2023 Schedule, Asia Cup 2023 News

The 2023 Asia Cup will be the sixteenth release of the Asia Cup, with the matches to be played as One Day international being facilitated in Pakistan. The competition will be played by 6 groups. Being held in September 2023 as a preliminary series before the 2023 Cricket World Cup is planned. Sri Lanka are the defending champs.

Participation

The five full individuals from the Asian Cricket Chamber will participate in the competition: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They will be joined by the bosses of the capability competition. In January 2023, the Asian Cricket Chamber (ACC) declared the pathway construction and schedule for 2023 and 2024, where they affirmed the dates and configuration of the competition. Initially, the competition was booked to occur in 2021, yet was delayed to 2023 because of pressed plan, with Pakistan as the hosts.

In June 2020, following a gathering with the ACC, the PCB said they might want to allow Sri Lanka to have the 2020 Asia Cup, with India reluctant to make a trip to Pakistan. The ACC gave a public statement following the gathering expressing that “considering the effect and results of the Coronavirus pandemic, conceivable setting choices for the Asia Cup 2020 were examined and taking a ultimate conclusion at the appointed time was chosen”.

In July 2020, an authority declaration of the delay was made by the ACC. The 2020 version was rescheduled to occur in Sri Lanka in June 2021. In Walk 2021, the competition was in danger of a further deferment after India qualified for the last of the World Test Title, which conflicted with the proposed dates in June.

The competition delayed back to 2023. In May 2021, the ACC affirmed that there would be no Asia Cup in 2021, with that release of the competition conceded until 2023. Pakistan was booked to have the 2022 Asia Cup in the wake of holding the privileges to have the 2022 release. Notwithstanding, in October 2021, following a gathering with the ACC, Ramiz Raja affirmed that Pakistan would have the competition in 2023, with Sri Lanka facilitating the 2022 release.

In October 2022, the BCCI secretary and ACC President Jay Shah said that India wouldn’t venture out to Pakistan with the continuous political pressure between the two nations. Regardless of Pakistan being affirmed as hosts before, that’s what he expressed “the Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a nonpartisan scene.” In answer to this assertion, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) mentioned for a crisis meeting of the ACC board to examine “this significant and delicate matter”. The PCB said that this proclamation could affect on Pakistan’s cooperation in the 2023 CWC and other ICC occasions in India in the 2024-2031 cycle.

In December 2022, the then PCB director Ramiz Raja informed that Pakistan should seriously think about pulling out of this competition assuming their facilitating freedoms are removed as a result of India’s reluctance to head out to Pakistan. Notwithstanding, in January 2023, ACC affirmed the groups and gatherings of the competition, with the two India and Pakistan participating.In Walk 2023, a goal was facilitated with Pakistan staying as hosts and all India matches including something like two India-Pakistan challenges to be played at an impartial scene yet to be affirmed.

Groups

The gatherings and organization of the competition was reported on 5 January 2023, with the six groups split into two gatherings of three. A sum of 13 matches will be played which incorporate six association matches, six very 4 matches and a Last. India, Pakistan and a group from qualifier (2023 ACC Men’s Challenger Cup – 2023 ACC Men’s Head Cup) have been set in Gathering, some time the reigning champs Sri Lanka are assembled with Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The main two groups from every one of the gatherings will advance to the Very 4 part of the competition. From that point, the best two groups of the Very 4 area will play each other in the last.