The debate around Pakistan hosting the Asia Cup 2023 hasn’t got over yet as the arrival of the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf and pressure from the Sports Ministry had led to another ICC meeting being proposed next week.
As per reports, the new PCB chief and sports ministry are not pleased with the Asia Cup being held both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. For the unversed, it was the former PCB chief, who proposed the idea of a hybrid model for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023.
Although Pakistan, earlier, had the hosting rights, BCCI were reluctant to visit Pakistan and wasn’t happy with Pakistan conducting the Asia Cup 2023. As a result, it was understood that Pakistan would host the matches against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan.
Post that, all the teams would fly to Sri Lanka to play the remainder of the tournament. India would play all the matches, including the one against Pakistan in Sri Lanka, while the semi-final and final will also be held in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Sports Minister Against Hybrid Model For Asia Cup 2023
However, Pakistan’s minister in charge of sports isn’t too pleased with that and wants Pakistan to conduct the entire Asia Cup 2023 tournament in his home country. It’s due to this reason, there has been a delay in the announcement of the schedule for the Asia Cup 2023.
“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model. My personal opinion, since PCB comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India,” Pakistan’s minister in charge for sports, Ehsaan Mazari told Indian Express.
With pressure from the sports minister mounting on the PCB chief, the latter is set to meet Jay Shah to discuss the conditions of Pakistan’s visit to India for the World Cup 2023.
“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model,” Pakistan’s minister in charge for sports, Ehsaan Mazari told Indian Express.
Also Read: Ashes 2023 3rd Test: England Clinch Nervy Win by 3 Wickets
