India-Pakistan deadlock persists over Asia Cup, World Cup participation

Islamabad(Mudasser Chuhdary)_Indian media were proven wrong once again on Monday as Sri Lankan media and cricket board rubbished the news about Asia Cup getting shifted to Sri Lanka from Pakistan.

According to Sri Lankan media, the board of Sri Lankan cricket said that they did not know anything about becoming hosts of the event.

They said that the decision about the hosting of Asia Cup would be made in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting.

Earlier, India media had reported that Sri Lanka was chosen as the venue of Asia Cup because the event could not be held in UAE due to the hot weather.

Indian media had also reported that Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had agreed to play the event in Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had indicated that they would boycott the event, if it would be held outside Pakistan.

Pakistan had suggested the hybrid model, in which Pakistan will host all other matches of Asia Cup but India would play at a neutral venue, but Indian media reported that broadcasters were not satisfied with it.

Earlier,

The hybrid model to host the matches of Pakistan and India during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and Asia Cup at a neutral venue is likely not to go ahead after the Board of Cricket Control in India’s (BCCI) flat refusal.

A report emerged that the two cricket boards were gradually moving towards a compromise and had nearly agreed to host India’s matches on a neutral venue while the rest of the Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan.

As per the latest development, however, the BCCI has refused the hybrid proposal for both events and once again demanded to shift the Asia Cup entirely from Pakistan.

Following BCCI’s initial refusal to tour Pakistan, the PCB also hinted at not touring India to participate in this year’s World Cup.

Although PCB has not said anything officially on the prospect of using the hybrid model – India playing Asia Cup matches on a neutral venue – for the ODI World Cup but has hinted it will be discussed at the ICC forum.

“This is not to say that the hybrid model will not be advocated at the proper ICC forum at the right time,” the last line of a PCB release said, while denying the hybrid model was discussed in last week’s ICC meeting.

Pakistan will due to suffer an extra expense of half a million dollars to broadcast India’s neutral venue matches in the Asia Cup. But the consequences of Pakistan not playing in India will be greater, both in terms of sponsorship and broadcast expenses. In that India has to add a Co-host for the event.

“Situation is very fluid,” said a top source dealing with the situation. “A final decision will only be made in June and by that time the ICC will adopt a wait and see policy.”

It may be noted here that the uncertainty around the 2023 Asia Cup began in October last year when the ACC president, and BCCI secretary, Jay Shah refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan and has since been trying to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.