Previously, Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] proposed a hybrid model for the tournament. India would play all of their matches outside Pakistan, including the finals, according to the proposed model
29 May, 2023
PHOTO: ACC
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refuses to show leniency and is all set to deny the idea of playing Asia Cup in accordance with the hybrid model proposed by PCB.
According to a report by Press Trust of India (PTI), BCCI is bent on participating in the event in a completely neutral venue. Speculations are that Asian Cricket Council (ACC) executive body will take the final call to reject the PCB's hybrid model sooner.
One of the ACC members reinstated that the final call shall be taken in the ACC meeting and that BCCI's last-ditch call remains the stumbling block in the whole fiasco.
"Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have already told the PCB that they have no issues playing their games in Pakistan. But India is not keen on supporting the hybrid model. Now, the impasse hasn't been broken, and the final decision will only be taken at the ACC executive board meeting that Jay (Shah) will have to summon," ACC board member said.
There has to be a middle of the road solution as you can't put this hybrid model to vote. I mean if there are six nations playing the event, what is the locus standi of the 19 other nations who won't play the tournament? On what basis will they vote when they have no stake?" ACC source added.
The neutral venues that have been proposed so far are Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates (UAE); however, several ACC board members are being skeptical about the latter due to extreme hot weather conditions.
