In between the dispute between Pakistan and India over hosting the Asia Cup 2023 the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly selected two alternative venues for the hybrid model. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier declined to send their team to Pakistan due to political tensions. For this, the PCB has indicated that they may not participate in the 2023 Cricket World Cup which is happening in India if Rohit and the company do not visit Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
A meeting was held in May among the Asian Cricket Council member in which PCB chief Najam Sethi recommended that Pakistan will find a separate venue for India for the Asia Cup in which India will play its match in UAE. But this proposal was rejected by Sri Lankan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board.A report in Geo News claims that the initial phase of the Asia Cup 2023 will consist of four matches which will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium while the rest of the tournament will be hosted at Dubai International Stadium. PCB is optimistic about selling a higher number of tickets in Dubai compared to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
However, PCB at its core does not want to take the Asia Cup outside Pakistan as they are trying their best to bring international cricket to the country.Sethi spoke to the media during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting and said that if India declines to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s chances of visiting India for 50 over the world cup would be very minimal.
