After weeks of deliberation and discussions, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has finally decided to host the Asia Cup 2023. In a significant move, the ACC announced on June 15 that the tournament would be held in a hybrid model, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka sharing the hosting duties.
The Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled from August 31 to September 17. The tournament will commence with the first match being held in Lahore between Pakistan and Nepal. Subsequently, the competition will move to Sri Lanka, where the possibility of hosting two high-profile India-Pakistan matches has garnered significant attention.
The acceptance of the hybrid model has brought immense joy to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Najam Sethi, the chairman of the PCB management committee, expressed his delight regarding the decision and offered his thoughts on the matter. Sethi acknowledged that while Pakistani fans would have relished the opportunity to witness the Indian cricket team playing in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, he understood the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) position.
“I am delighted that our hybrid version for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been accepted. This means the PCB will remain as the event host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue, which was required due to the Indian cricket team’s inability to travel to Pakistan,” Najam Sethi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
“Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket team in action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCI’s position. Like the PCB, the BCCI also requires government approval and clearance before crossing borders,” he further added.
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The inability of the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan led to the requirement of a neutral venue, which Sri Lanka has fulfilled. The PCB and the BCCI are subject to government approval and clearance before international matches can be conducted across borders.
The decision to hold the Asia Cup 2023 in a hybrid model reflects the ACC’s efforts to ensure the tournament’s smooth execution despite the prevailing circumstances. The PCB’s enthusiasm for hosting matches in Pakistan, combined with Sri Lanka’s role as a neutral venue, sets the stage for an exciting tournament that will captivate fans across the region.
