The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have turned down Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s hybrid model for the Asia Cup 2023 due to logistical challenges and extreme heat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the hybrid model, India were supposed to play all their games in the UAE, with the rest of the event played out in Pakistan in September this year.
"We have written to the ACC to say that we are against the hybrid model," Mohan de Silva, the SLC secretary, told ESPNcricinfo. "But beyond that, no final decision has been reached. It's very hot in the UAE at that time of year."
Additionally, SLC are also in favour of organising the tournament in Sri Lanka with Pakistan retaining the hosting rights. This would be similar to what happened last year, when Sri Lanka hosted the event in UAE due to political and economic turmoil in their country.
"If the offer is there to play the tournament in Sri Lanka, we will take it. Pakistan will be the official hosts," Mohan de Silva said.
However, the PCB is adamant about hosting the Asia Cup through the hybrid model.
"The PCB presented a hybrid model that resolves issues of logistics and travel and production," a PCB official told ESPNcricinfo. "The board reiterated its position that we won't play the Asia Cup if the Pakistan plus neutral venue model is rejected."
Despite being considered one of sport's greatest rivalries, India and Pakistan have not met on home soil in any version of the game since 2012, and only play each other in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds.
Earlier, the chairman of the PCB Management Committee, Najam Sethi, called for a rational approach to solve the looming crisis that threatens the successful hosting of the Asia Cup and the country's participation in the ODI World Cup this year.
Talking to the media on the occasion of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting, Sethi said the Pakistan team’s chances of traveling to India for the ODI World Cup are low.
“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said.
“There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” he added.
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