The upcoming Asia Cup 2023 organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) may proceed without the participation of Pakistan, as reported by The Telegraph India. The event, originally designated to be hosted by Pakistan, is now likely to take place in Sri Lanka.
According to the report, the ACC executive board will convey to Pakistan at its next meeting that all other participating nations have agreed to play in Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been unable to secure support for its proposal and will have to comply with playing in Sri Lanka or withdraw from hosting the tournament.
The participating teams, if Pakistan does not take part, would be India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The inclusion of a fifth team is yet to be decided.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly declined the option of sending their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and is adamant about holding the event at a neutral venue. On the other hand, the PCB is reluctant to host the tournament outside Pakistan as it may adversely affect its efforts in bringing international cricket back to the country.
The proposed hybrid model put forward by the PCB, which involved playing four matches of the group stage in Pakistan and the remaining matches at a neutral venue, is unlikely to be accepted by the BCCI.
Najam Sethi, Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, recently urged for a rational approach to resolve the impending crisis, which not only threatens the successful hosting of the Asia Cup but also Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup this year.
During a media interaction at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting, Sethi expressed doubts about Pakistan’s chances of traveling to India for the ODI World Cup.
“If India refuses to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, it is likely that the Pakistan government would not permit our team to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In such a scenario, cricket will suffer the most,” Sethi remarked.
The uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s involvement in the Asia Cup and the potential implications for their World Cup campaign underscore the need for a constructive resolution to ensure the smooth conduct of these tournaments.
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