Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has categorically denied to accept any other schedule for Asia Cup 2023 other than it's proposed hybrid model. Sethi said that the board is willing to willing accept revenue losses worth USD 3 Million but won't participate if the competition is shifted to a different venue altogether.
Notably, earlier the PCB had proposed that only India matches of Asia Cup could be played at a neutral venue while the remainder of the matches can be staged in Pakistan in response to India's firm stance of not travelling to their neighbouring country for any cricket matches.
"We have made it very clear that unless the Asia Cup is held on a hybrid model like we have proposed, that is India playing its matches at an offshore venue and Pakistan hosting the remaining games at home, we will not accept any other schedule and neither play," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.
"We will not lose our hosting rights," he added.
"Security is no excuse for them now and we have told them if their government is not giving them clearance to play in Pakistan, show us some written proof of this," Sethi said.
Also Read: Indian Women's Team To Get Full-Fledged, Dedicated Coaching Staff: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah
"When all other teams, including Australia, England, and New Zealand, are playing in Pakistan without any issues, there should be no security concerns for India to tour Pakistan," the 74-year-old said.
While earlier there were reports which suggested that Pakistan could boycott the ODI World Cup in India later this year, Sethi had said that the relationship with the ICC are a different dynamic and if they do that, it could negatively impact their association with the world cricket governing body.
With Pakistan players not participating in IPL, they will play a five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home starting from April 14.