"Asia Cup without Pakistan wouldn’t have been enjoyable": Former India cricketer

Aakash Chopra, a well-known cricket commentator and former Indian cricketer, is relieved after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) proposal for a hybrid model for the Asia Cup in 2023.

Asia Cup is scheduled to take place from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will feature teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal competing in 13 exciting ODI matches.

The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka.

Chopra acknowledged that he was not surprised by the ACC's decision, considering India's refusal to travel to Pakistan.

"I am not a wee bit surprised because India had refused to go and they are not going. Pakistan will also come to play the World Cup, there is no doubt about that because you cannot do like that in ICC events that you won't play," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

He emphasized the importance of Pakistan's presence in the Asia Cup, stating that the tournament would not be enjoyable without them, comparing it to a pizza without its topping.

"You can flex your muscles slightly in the Asia Cup, you can say that you won't play and that other teams can play without you if they want. Asia Cup without Pakistan is like pizza without the topping. It won't be enjoyable. So you want Pakistan to be there in the Asia Cup," he added.

The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup will follow a format with two groups, with two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then compete in the final.