LAHORE: The stalemate over the internet hosting of Asia Cup 2023 lastly ended on Thursday when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) accepted the hybrid mannequin introduced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Hosts Pakistan will break up Asia Cup matches with Sri Lanka below the hybrid mannequin for the match starting on August 31. The transfer clears the best way for Pakistan’s participation within the subsequent 50-overs World Cup in India in October-November this 12 months. The match was initially meant to be held totally in Pakistan however the hybrid mannequin grew to become vital after India mentioned it will not journey to Pakistan due to the soured political relations between the neighbours who play one another solely in multi-team tournaments. In reply, Pakistan had threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup in India in the event that they had been made to stage your complete Asia Cup abroad. The final bilateral sequence between the arch-rivals passed off in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for limited-overs matches. Over the previous few years, the 2 international locations have solely confronted one another in ICC and ACC occasions.
Within the hybrid mannequin, 4 of the 13 matches will likely be performed in Pakistan and the remaining 9 in Sri Lanka. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was additionally within the working as a impartial venue however Bangladesh raised considerations over the acute climate there in September. The ACC introduced the choice to just accept PCB’s mannequin whereas revealing the schedule for the much-anticipated match which was riddled with controversy on account of Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) stubbornness. “We’re delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will see the elite groups from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal compete in a complete of 13 thrilling ODI matches,” the council mentioned in an announcement issued on this regard. This would be the first time since 2008 that matches of a multi-nation cricket match will likely be staged in Pakistan. The ultimate of the six-team match is scheduled on September 17.
“I’m elated that our hybrid model for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been accepted,” Najam Sethi, chair of the PCB administration committee, mentioned in an announcement. “This implies the PCB will stay because the occasion host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka because the impartial venue, which was required because of the Indian cricket staff’s incapacity to journey to Pakistan. Our passionate followers would have liked to see the India cricket staff in motion in Pakistan for the primary time in 15 years, however we perceive the BCCI’s place. Just like the PCB, the BCCI additionally requires authorities approval and clearance earlier than crossing borders. I now sit up for persevering with our discussions and deliberations with the ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket to iron out a couple of minor operational and logistical particulars in order that we are able to launch our occasion planning and preparations.”
The 2023 version could have India, Pakistan and Nepal in a single group, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in one other group, with the highest two groups from every group qualifying for the Tremendous 4 stage. The highest two from the Tremendous 4 stage will then face off within the remaining. Matches will likely be performed within the 50-over format as preparation for the ODI World Cup in India in October-November. Sri Lanka are the defending champions, although the 2022 occasion was performed within the 20-over format. The final 50-over Asia Cup was performed in 2018 within the UAE, the place India beat Bangladesh in an exciting remaining.
Sethi mentioned up to now 15 months, the PCB had delivered high-profile bilateral sequence in addition to two immensely profitable Pakistan Tremendous League occasions through which among the world’s main cricketers participated and loved Pakistan’s excellent preparations and unprecedented hospitality. “We sit up for offering related expertise to the taking part sides within the ACC Asia Cup, which will likely be a prelude to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February-March 2025. I now sit up for persevering with our discussions and deliberations with the ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket to iron out a couple of minor operational and logistical particulars in order that we are able to launch our occasion planning and preparations. I need to guarantee the ACC, its industrial companions, taking part international locations, and the cricket followers in Pakistan and Sri Lanka that the PCB, as occasion hosts, is not going to go away any stone unturned within the profitable supply of the occasion that’s so very crucial to the perimeters that includes within the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in October-November in India. I respect the efforts of ACC President Jay Shah to strengthen the council in order that we are able to collectively proceed to guard one another’s pursuits and likewise present alternatives and platforms to rising Asian nations,” he concluded.