Sri Lanka, Bangladesh oppose Pakistan’s hybrid model for Asia Cup

Lahore(Tahir Chuhdary/Webdesk)Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rejected the idea of playing Asia Cup outside Pakistan, as Sri Lanka Cricket Board had suggested to host the event in their country and letting Pakistan remain the official hosts.

PCB suggested Asian Cricket Council (ACC) the hybrid model once again, in which it was offered that India can play their matches in UAE.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh do not have problem with the hybrid model but do not want to play matches in UAE due to hot weather.

The board official told Samaa TV that PCB had written an email to the boards of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that Asia Cup has been played in UAE in the past in the months of August and September as well.

The honourary secretary of SLC Mohan De Silva has reportedly said that they have told ACC that they are against hybrid model and would be prepared to host Asia Cup in their country but nothing has been finalised yet.

But Pakistan Cricket Board have stayed firm on their stance that they would boycott the event if it is held outside Pakistan.

Meanwhile,

Cricket boards of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Wednesday opposed Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal for adopting a hybrid model for the upcoming Asia Cup.

The PCB had repeatedly proposed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for hosting the Asia Cup through a hybrid model, which suggested hosting all games in Pakistan except high-octane Pak-India matches. In its repeated suggestion, the PCB had provided solution to the logistic support and technical problems highlighted by the ACC.

The PCB said Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had no concerns over playing the Asia Cup in Pakistan adding that it had the emails of both boards.

However, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka objected that it was hard to play in the UAE as well as there were logistic and travel concerns associated with it. SL board secretary Mohan DeSilva said, “We have apprised the ACC of our concerns but have not taken a final decision yet”.

He said the UAE’s weather was hot and the PCB was suggested to hold Asia Cup at another venue as SL had done. “If SL is offered to host the tournament, we shall accept it with Pakistan as the official host,” he added.