Asia Cup 2023: BCCI ‘unlikely to support’ PCB’s hybrid model

Last Updated on June 5, 2023 by Mavia

According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report, the Indian Cricket Board will not back Pakistan’s hybrid plan for the Asia Cup 2023 as long as disagreement over the big event’s legitimacy exists.

Najam Sethi, the chairman of the management committee for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has submitted a proposal to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to allay Indian worries over not travelling to Islamabad for the major event.

Although some council members supported the hybrid concept, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to be transparent about it.

Cricket Asia Cup 2023

According to the PTI report, the BCCI would not agree to Najam Sethi’s plan, which would have India’s matches and the championship game played at a neutral site but have four preliminary rounds and two super four games played in Pakistan.

The Indian news agency reported that during a casual conversation with some of the members of the continental organisation in Ahmedabad, ACC Chairman Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI secretary, made the Indian board’s position apparent.

The executive body of the ACC, which will meet soon, will make the final judgement in this matter.

Due to their strained political ties, India and Pakistan’s bilateral cricket matches are now on hold, and they only meet in multi-team competitions.

If Pakistan is compelled to hold the entire Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, they have vowed to boycott the World Cup in India in October-November.

According to PTI, the BCCI will not accept PCB president Najam Sethi’s proposed hybrid hosting format for the Asia Cup.

It is believed that India’s position on the issue has been made plain by ACC chairman Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI secretary.

The ACC executive body must ultimately make the decision for a tournament to be held at a neutral site, and that’s where the issue is.

“Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have already informed the PCB that playing their games in Pakistan is no problem for them. India, meanwhile, is not eager to promote the hybrid approach. The disagreement has not yet been resolved, and Jay Shah will have to call an executive board meeting to make the ultimate decision, an ACC board member told PTI.

“Since this hybrid model cannot be presented to a vote, there must be a compromise solution. What is the locus standi of the 19 other nations that won’t participate in the tournament if only six countries participate in it? What criteria will people use to vote when they have nothing to lose? the ACC participant added.

If the UAE is not the neutral location, according to the BCCI, it will be a logistical nightmare.

Since the capacity of Galle or Premadasa Stadium is less than Dubai, the PCB previously informed the ACC that it expected at least 0.5 million USD from gate receipts of the two India vs. Pakistan games if they were played in Sri Lanka.