There has been a lot of talk regarding the venue of the Asia Cup and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are firm about their decision. The tournament is set to be hosted by Pakistan in September 2023. Earlier it was said that India will not travel to Pakistan and they will play their matches at a neutral venue but according to a latest report the proposal of hybrid model for team India has apparently been turned down.
According to multiple sources, if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not agree to the hybrid model proposed for the Asia Cup the tournament may not happen in 2023. The PCB has already rejected the option of holding the event in another country, even though Sri Lanka was reportedly interested in hosting and the UAE was also considered as a potential venue.
PCB refusal to consider any alternative options for hosting the Asia Cup except for their own country has created concerns. The board believes that if the matter is not resolved soon, it could lead to complications when Pakistan hosts the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Several sources have indicated that a significant decision regarding the Asia Cup dispute will be taken soon.
It has been noted that two weeks ago, Jay Shah announced that the council was still awaiting feedback from the countries involved in the tournament before making a final decision about the venue for the Asia Cup.
Shah said,“We are awaiting feedback from other nations to finalise the venue for the 2023 Asia Cup and clarity on the India-Pakistan match.”
Meanwhile, BCCI is reportedly ready for the possibility of the Asia Cup being cancelled. In surprise it was announced that they are planning a new tournament featuring five nations that could fill the gap left by the cancellation of the Asia Cup.
