Asia Cup 2023: ACC Call Meeting on PCB Proposed Asia Cup Hybrid Model
Asian Cricket Council – ACC is likely to hold a meeting this week to discuss the hybrid model proposed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for hosting rights of Asia Cup 2023, according to sources cited by Geo News.
After PCB management committee chairman Najam Sethi threatened the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with withdrawal from the Asia Cup if the hybrid model was rejected, the ACC has resolved to convene member boards to discuss the possibility of adopting the hybrid model for the Asian tournament.
PCB has provided two hybrid model options. In the first option, India’s matches will be contested at a neutral venue, while all other encounters will be held in Pakistan. In an alternative scenario, four group stage matches will be played in Pakistan during the first phase, while the second phase will be played at a neutral venue. During the second phase, the Indian team’s matches, the matches of the subsequent stages, and the final will be played.
According to the sources, the meeting will most likely approve the second option. In the event of its approval, Pakistan will host their group match against Nepal. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will play their group-stage matches in Pakistan.
Notably, BCCI has refused to dispatch their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in September of this year and is adamant that the event be conducted at a neutral location. However, the PCB is not interested in hosting the entire event outside of Pakistan because doing so would hinder its efforts to bring back international cricket to the country.
Despite being regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in sports, India and Pakistan have not met on home soil in any iteration of the game since 2012; they only compete in international tournaments on neutral grounds.
Also Read: Pakistan Will Play in India If They Accept Asia Cup Hybrid Model