The Asia Cup 2023 and all the rumours surrounding it had been doing rounds on the internet for the past few days. A PCB journalist claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to cancel the Asia Cup if India refuses to participate and play in Pakistan. It was further reported that in that very window, India will have a five-nation tournament instead of the Asia Cup.
But all these rumors have been shattered by one of the sources of the Asian Cricket Council. The Asian Cricket Council hasn’t received any formal update about the stand of the PCB regarding the tournament. Here is an in-depth look:
Asia Cup 2023 To Be Played in a Hybrid Model:
The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier made it clear that the Pakistan Cricket team will not travel to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 next year if India doesn’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. But the Asian Cricket Council had suggested the PCB or a more suitable option for holding the games of India or hosting the entire tournament at a neutral venue.
They have also asked Pakistan to possibly hold the Asia Cup in a hybrid manner. Wherein all the games of India will be held at a neutral venue like Dubai while all other games can be held in Pakistan. Pakistan will lose out on a lot of viewership revenue if they fail to host this tournament. Reports suggest that Pakistan Cricket Board is running out of the finances required for functioning well and this tournament can be a big boom for them financially.
Jay Shah is the Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council:
Here is what the member of the ACC had to say about it. “There has been an exchange of messages, but no discussion or proposal to postpone the Asia Cup has been floated. “Secondly, if the Asia Cup is canceled, PCB will be intimated first. Nothing of that sort has happened till now. The ACC chairman (Shah) has not yet put anything on record. To postpone or cancel the event, the ACC will have to call an Executive Board meeting. The chairman (Shah) can call the meeting in seven days (virtual or physical). To date, there is no intimation about any such meeting.”
Asia Cup has Been Previously Held in the UAE:
The last two editions of the Asia Cup, Asia Cup 2018 and Asia Cup 2022 have both been held in the UAE. Once the host was the BCCI and the other time it was the Sri Lankan Cricket Council. With that being said, it gives enough evidence that the PCB can manage the logistical support that needs to be provided for hosting a tournament in UAE.
The source further added, “Look, if Asia Cup is canceled after the ACC chairman summons an Executive Board meeting, the ramifications will not just be Pakistan’s World Cup participation, but also PCB’s FTP calendar and bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.”
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