The BCCI has made it clear that it will not send a team to Pakistan due to tensions between the two countries, hence the hybrid model.
Release date – Sunday 23 July 07:45
Karachi: The PCB will try to get more Asian Cup matches played in Pakistan when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) board meets in Dubai on Sunday.
After all stakeholders, including the PCB and BCCI, embraced the hybrid model, the ACC announced last month that four matches would be played in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka, with the tournaments to be played from August 31 to September 17. held on the day.
The hybrid model was proposed as BCCI made it clear that it would not send a team to Pakistan due to tensions between the two countries.
However, new PCB cricket committee chairman Zaka Ashraf was not in charge of the committee when the Asian Cup dates were announced, but he had spoken to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Durban earlier this week. ACC member board officials at the meeting made their intentions clear.
While the full schedule for this tournament has yet to be announced, it is unlikely that Pakistan will get any more matches.
“Pakistan will take its stand at the ACC meeting and since rain is expected at the Sri Lankan venue, which hosts nine matches in the Asian Cup, Pakistan should be allowed to host more than four matches at home,” a PCB source said.
The ACC is meeting to determine the Asian Cup schedule. The hybrid model was proposed by Najam Sethi, chairman of the defunct PCB Cricket Board of Management, and has been embraced by ACC members, including India.
There are indications that the tournament’s two India-Pakistan matches will be played in Dambulla.
Not only do Xhaka Ashraf want more matches in Lahore so they can use other venues including Multan, sources said.
“The competent authorities have expressed their desire to kick off the event with a match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, where they expect more spectator numbers than Lahore,” he added.
They believe choosing the Multan Stadium, which is smaller than Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, will create a more crowded atmosphere for the opening match.
Pakistani officials hope they will have the opportunity to host more games.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal will take part in the continental event.
The 2023 tournament will be divided into two groups, with two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will face off in the final.
