Pakistan Cricket Board officials have opposed shifting this year’s Asia Cup to Sri Lanka. Officials say that if the Asian Cricket Council does not accept their proposal, they are seriously considering boycotting this Asian tournament. PCB chief Najam Sethi met ACC officials in Dubai on Tuesday and objected to shifting the Asia Cup to Sri Lanka instead of the UAE.
A reliable source in the PCB said, “Sethi has insisted that the ACC accept Pakistan’s revised hybrid model proposal for the Asia Cup 2023 and move it to 2018 if the majority of members want it to be held elsewhere.” And like 2022 should be held in UAE.” The source added that Sethi also informed the ACC about BCCI’s concern regarding the UAE heat.
The source said, “BCCI has told ACC that it will be too hot to play in UAE in September, but this is what Sethi has said today, who has held his IPL in UAE from September to November 2020. So, I can tell you that Sethi has given ACC a new hybrid model schedule, an offer they should no longer refuse.” The PCB is also surprised that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board supports the BCCI from behind.
A PCB source said, “It is a surprise because earlier in the last ACC board meeting in February, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan rejected the Lankan proposal, and it was agreed that Pakistan would continue as the host.” Before leaving for Dubai, PCB chairman Najam Sethi had told his officials to start working on organizing 3 to 4 countries in Pakistan this year in the Asia Cup window if the continental tournament is not held in the country.
If Pakistan Boycotted Asia Cup 2023
If Pakistan boycotts Asia Cup 2023, then the UAE team can be seen playing in the tournament. This way, teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal and UAE will be part of the Asian tournament. Another loss for Pakistan would be that the team would not even get a share of the earnings from ACC. However, Pakistan is planning a tri-series in the meantime.
