Asia Cup: PCB objects to host agreement favouring India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has returned the agreement to host the Asia Cup to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) with a protest. 

The PCB has objected to the agreement, claiming that it appears to favor India and that they will decide the venue for the tournament. 

ALSO READ: Want to make formidable pair with Shaheen Afridi: Mohammad Abbas

The Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, Najam Sethi, said that the board has made amendments to the document and sent it back to the ACC with a letter requesting changes while keeping the "Hybrid Model" in mind.

The ACC has not yet responded to PCB's objections. The alternative venues for the tournament are likely to be UAE, Sri Lanka, or Oman. If the changes are adopted successfully, it could be a model for other tournaments in the future.

According to the details, while speaking in an exclusive interview with Express News, Sethi said, "When I took charge at PCB, I inquired whether former Chairman, Ramiz Raja, had signed the contract for hosting the Asia Cup? What are the rules and regulations?"

The Chairman has been inquiring about the hosting agreement for some time and was eventually able to secure a copy. After reading the document, Sethi said that it appears that India will make the decision about where the event will take place. 

The PCB has edited the document and sent it back to the ACC, but they have not received a response yet.

The cricket board has suggested that the matches should be played at a neutral venue where the stadium will be filled and naximum revenue can be generated. India's matches will be played in neutral venues, while others will be played in Pakistan. 

Sethi said that other members of the ACC have stated that without Pakistan, the question of Asia Cup does not arise. Therefore, the PCB is hopeful that the decision will be in their favor.

The 74-year-old also suggested that the ICC should play a role in deciding the venue for the World Cup. However, he emphasized that the adoption of the "Hybrid Model" would need to be agreed upon first. After the Asia Cup, if the results are positive, it will be reiterated that the model can be adopted for other events as well.

It is still uncertain whether the Pakistan team will play in the World Cup in India. The PCB will seek the government's opinion on this matter. For now, the focus is on the Asia Cup and how to proceed after the tournament is over.