Despite a dispute between Pakistan and India, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalized two new venues for the composite model for the Asia Cup 2023.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan prevented the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from sending their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
PCB, on the other hand, has indicated that they will not participate in the 2023 Cricket World Cup if India does not travel to their country.
During a May meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), PCB chief Najam Sethi proposed a hybrid model for hosting the multi-nation tournament, with India playing its matches in the United Arab Emirates. The proposal was declined by both Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). In a subsequent conversation with an Indian media agency, Sethi proposed that the Asia Cup be held in England.
According to a report by Geo News, the first four matches of the continental championship will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, while the remaining matches will be played at the Dubai International Stadium. PCB hopes to sell more tickets in Dubai compared to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. In addition, the PCB is not interested in hosting the match outside of Pakistan because doing so would imperil its efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.
Sethi told the media on the margins of a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) that Pakistan’s chances of competing in the 50-over World Cup in India are slim if India refuses to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. He continued by stating that if such events occur, cricket will suffer the most.
“There is a possibility that if India refused to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, the Pakistani government would not allow the Men in Green to cross its borders to compete in the World Cup. In such a scenario, cricket will suffer the most.
“There should be a middle ground for resolving issues that jeopardize the successful hosting of ICC and ACC events. “Should India refuse to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will prohibit our participation in World Cup matches in India,” Sethi stated.
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