The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been in talks with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding Asia Cup 2023, set to be hosted in Pakistan, this year. After BCCI made it clear that they won't be sending their players to Pakistan for the continental tournament, reports of a 'hybrid model' being considered has been in the news for the last few days. As per media reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed a hybrid model with India’s Asia Cup 2023 matches to be played on a neutral venue, instead in Pakistan. Now, speculations are rife that Pakistan would follow a similar hybrid format in ODI World Cup 2023 as well, by playing their matches in a neutral venue and not in India. For the unversed, India are the hosts of ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, which is scheduled in October.
Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday (March 31) clarified the position taken by its Chairman Management Committee Najam Sethi regarding the holding of Asia Cup 2023 at a “neutral” venue instead of in the host country Pakistan.
Referring to the media talk in Rawalpindi/Islamabad on Thursday, Najam Sethi said he had briefed the media on the hybrid model he had presented to the ACC officials for the ACC Asia Cup to end the impasse that had been created following the BCCI’s decision to not send its team to Pakistan.
“This proposal - to play India’s matches at a neutral venue and the rest in Pakistan - is under discussions within the ACC.
“At no stage during Thursday’s media interaction, did I give any reference to the ICC or made any remarks on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is scheduled in October. This matter has not been mooted or discussed at any ICC forum so far.
“In this background, the PCB is disappointed that a leading English language newspaper has misquoted, misinterpreted and misrepresented Mr Sethi’s comments and gave the impression that PCB’s hybrid model was presented and discussed at the ICC, which is factually incorrect. At this stage, the PCB is only in discussions with the ACC over the hosting of the ACC Asia Cup and no discussions regarding the World Cup have taken place with the ICC.
“This is not to say that the hybrid model will not be advocated at the proper ICC forum at the right time.”