Asia Cup 2023 / Final decision on Pakistan's Asia Cup venue! But there was a ruckus regarding the World Cup

Asia Cup 2023: Controversy continues over the venue of the Asia Cup 2023 to be hosted by Pakistan. Now the final formula has been prepared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB has sent the proposal of the hybrid model to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Under this, India's matches in the Asia Cup will be played at a neutral venue, but the rest of the tournament will be held in Pakistan. This is true, but after sending this proposal to ACC, Najam Sethi said such a thing in front of the media, which created a ruckus regarding the ODI World Cup 2023 to be held in India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday forwarded the proposal to host the Asia Cup to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) with India agreeing to host the matches at neutral venues. PCB chief Najam Sethi then told that he has forwarded the proposal to the ACC. In this, India can play its matches at neutral venue while the rest of the teams will play in Pakistan. Significantly, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) had refused to travel to Pakistan due to political tension between the two countries and demanded to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.

India's matches will be held at neutral venue

Talking to the media, Sethi said, "We have decided to have it (Asia Cup) on 'hybrid model' where Pakistan will play Asia Cup matches at their home ground and India will play their matches at neutral venues. This is our proposal to the Asian Cricket Council. According to the information, the Asia Cup is proposed to be organized from September 2 to 17, in which six teams will participate. Due to the dispute over the venue, the exact schedule of the matches is yet to be announced. Apart from Pakistan and India, a qualifier team along with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh will participate in the Asia Cup. Its qualifying tournament continues in Nepal.

'Hybrid model' in ODI World Cup too?

Apart from this, Sethi also said that the opinion of the people of his country is that Pakistan should play cricket with India only on equal terms. There is no restriction from our government to play against India. But I can say on public opinion that we are not needy and we can stand on our feet financially. We want to play respectable cricket with India. We are also in talks with ACC. If Pakistan decides to shift all India's matches in the Asia Cup to neutral venues, the neighboring country should also implement the same 'hybrid model' during the 50-over World Cup in October-November this year. We think this 'hybrid' experiment can be implemented during the World Cup as well.

The PCB chairperson then made a statement that suggested Sethi was pinning hopes on Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's visit to India next month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council meeting. He hoped that the visit of External Affairs Minister to Goa would help in improving relations between the two countries. Sethi said that, we have been told that the relationship can be normal. If this happens then India will consider participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in 2025. We have been advised to go to India for the World Cup along with playing the Asia Cup at a neutral venue. He, however, did not say who gave this advice.