'India Can Play Their Matches At Neutral Venue': PCB Proposes 'Hybrid Model' For Asia Cup 2023 - Report
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had refused to travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and demanded to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.
Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday submitted their final plan to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), proposing to host the Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan with India's matches being organized at neutral venues, chief Najam Sethi revealed on Friday as per PTI. Due to the political tensions between India and Pakistan, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had asserted that the Men in Blue won't travel to Pakistan for the tournament, and demanded to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.
"We have decided on this hybrid model that Pakistan plays its Asia Cup matches at home and India their matches at a neutral venue and that is our proposal to the Asian Cricket Council," said Sethi, who took over as the PCB chairman from former cricketer Ramiz Raja, during a press conference, PTI reported.
"Our government has imposed no restrictions about playing against India. But I can say right now that public mood is, we are not needy and we can stand on our own feet financially and we want to play cricket with India honourably. We are also negotiating with the ACC," Sethi said.
The 2023 season of Asia Cup is slated to kickoff in first week of September. A total of 13 matches including the summit clash, will be played in this year's subcontinental tournament involving 6 teams. The tournament will last for 13 days. India and Pakistan are in the same group and one more team that qualifies will join them in their group. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in the second group. However, the schedule of matches has not been announced yet due to uncertainty over the venue.
Last year, Asia Cup was played in 20-over format during August in the UAE. Initially, ICC had named Sri Lanka as the host of last year's Asia Cup, but due to economic crisis in the island nation, the tournament was shifted to UAE. Notably, back then, Sri Lanka won the tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final.
Team India made it to the Super-4s by winning both their group stage matches, but could not qualify for the final after losing to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Super-4s.
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