Asia Cup 2023: Big setback to BCCI, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka support Pakistan

In a big development, Pakistan has won over two important members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who have expressed willingness to support its “hybrid model” presented by the board for the Asia Cup 2023 to address Indian concerns. Asia Cup 2023: Big setback to BCCI, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka support Pakistan.

Pakistan is hoping to find a solution over the venue of the tournament after India denied travelling to the neighbouring nation. As per a report by Pakistan’s Geo News, both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have now expressed their willingness to support Pakistan’s hybrid model.

Moreover, the report adds that Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah will chair a meeting with ACC Board members to assess the proposal of the host country Pakistan. Pakistan have reportedly offered two options in their hybrid model. The first one includes India playing their matches at a neutral venue, while the other games will be held in Pakistan.

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The second one says that four group stage matches in the initial phase of the event will take place in Pakistan while the Indian matches in the second phase followed by next stage matches and the final to be played outside Pakistan. It is being learnt that the two ACC members have agreed upon the second option. India, Pakistan and Nepal are in Group 1, whereas Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in group 2.

Also, it is being said that an official meeting of the council will be called by end of May to decide on the future of the event. Meanwhile, the PCB chairman had recently confirmed that the future of the tournament will be decided within the next two weeks and nothing has been finalised yet. “Nothing has been finalised yet. We will have the decision on Asia Cup cricket within the next two weeks,” Sethi told The News.