Asia Cup: India in trouble after green signal by four countries

PCB has offered two options in the hybrid model

May 21, 2023
Asia Cup trophy — ACC

The approval of the hybrid model by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan has forced India to think about their stance on Asia Cup 2023.

According to sources, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee Najam Sethi’s strict stance regarding the Asia Cup and the World Cup 2023 has put India in a tight spot.

The options for ACC Chief and Indian Board Secretary Jay Shah are “very few” after the approval of four countries.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan have agreed to come to Pakistan for the first phase of the hybrid model.

However, there is a deadlock between Dubai and Sri Lanka for the second phase, apart from Pakistan, other countries are in favour of holding it in Sri Lanka.

The PCB is optimistic that they will come to a final decision by next week.

It must be noted here that PCB has offered two options in the hybrid model. In the first option, India will play their matches at a neutral venue whereas all other matches will be played in Pakistan. In another option, four matches of the group stage in the first phase will take place in Pakistan whereas the second phase, in which matches of the Indian team followed by the next stage matches including the final, will be played at a neutral venue.

PCB, according to sources, has named Dubai as a preferred neutral venue in a hybrid model. If Dubai hosts the second phase of the Asia Cup, according to the second hybrid model, PCB will get its share in gate money. However, PCB will have to bear the loss if the neutral venue is other than the UAE.

India may make a condition for Pakistan to come to India to play in the World Cup to agree to the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Pakistan will decide about the World Cup after the finalisation of the Asia Cup. The PCB have not yet given a green signal to play the World Cup in India, nor have they agreed to the venues.

Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.

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