Asian Cricket Council to meet on February 4 in Bahrain over Asia Cup, confirms PCB chairman Najam Sethi

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has confirmed that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has accepted PCB's request to hold an executive board meeting regarding the forthcoming edition of the Asia Cup. The meeting is scheduled to be held on February 4 in Bahrain wherein ACC along with the PCB will discuss the hosting rights and India’s participation in the event. 

On Monday, January 23, Sethi told the media about the developments that happened during his recent visit to Dubai as he succeeded in convincing the ACC members to hold the board meeting.

“It is a major development that the ACC the board will meet on 4th February in Bahrain and matters relating to the Asia Cup will be discussed. There will also be a ICC meeting in March and I don’t want to go public with what negotiations I had with ACC members in Dubai or what I plan to do, argue or discuss at the coming meetings. But yes, definitely India and Pakistan cricket relations are important,” the PCB chairman was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

 PCB chairman wants closure on Asia Cup controversy

BCCI and PCB have been at loggerheads with the issue pertaining to the host nation of the Asia Cup 2023. The apex cricket governing body in India struck the first blow when BCCI secretary Jay Shah mentioned that the national team will not be travelling to the neighbouring country. In reply, the then PCB chief Ramiz Raja had threatened to pull out of the 2023 ODI World Cup slated to be organised in India.

However, the newly appointed PCB chairman believes that the matters require clarity so that the global ICC and ACC events remain unaffected. 

“Hosting the Asia Cup this year is very important and India sending its team is a big issue because it will obviously have repercussions on the Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan in 2025,” he added.