KATHMANDU, MAY 01
Pakistan is to host the Asia Cup slated for September this year. Pakistan has remained firm on it's stance to organize the event following a hybrid model as per which the Indian team would play their matches outside of Pakistan.
However, in a recent turn of events, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) plan of the hybrid model.
As PCB remains unuttered on the Asia Cup row, the highly anticipated tournament could potentially not take place in 2023 at all.
Meanwhile, PCB has already dismissed the idea of holding the event in another country as both Sri Lanka and the UAE had expressed keen interest for the opportunity.
A potential explanation of PCB's rejection of every other alternative other than hosting the tournament at home could be the board's opinion that if the issue was not resolved now, then it could cause issues when they host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah was quoted as saying, "We are awaiting feedback from other nations to finalise the venue for the 2023 Asia Cup and clarity on the India-Pakistan match."
Earlier, Shah had shown interest in PCB's hybrid model proposal to serve as a solution for strife between the board contrary to BCCI's current disagreement with the same.
On the other hand, the BCCI is also prepared for the potential cancellation of the Asia Cup. Given that the Asia Cup could be cancelled in the future, the board has reportedly been planning for a brand new five-nation tournament which would be organized in the window that would be vacated by the Asia Cup.
To add to PCB's troubles, it is also eyeing plans for the upcoming ODI World Cup to be held in late 2023, which could be hindred amid flak over putting off Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup row is of concern to Nepal as well with UAE and Nepal battling it out in the finals of the ACC Premier Cup in hopes of qualifying for the Asia Cup. The ongoing final between Nepal and United Arab Emirates (UAE) that had been halted twice due to rain will resume on Tuesday. The uncertainty surrounding the schedule of the Asia Cup has become a heavily discussed topic as of late in the Nepali cricket scene.
