Pakistan in dismay after three sub-continent cricket boards turn down former's Asia Cup hybrid model

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suffered a major setback as the cricketing governing bodies of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have rejected the hybrid model to contest the Asia Cup 2023. PCB chief Najam Sethi proposed a hybrid model to contest the continental championship later this year after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to visit Pakistan, citing security concerns.

As per PCB’s proposed hybrid model, four or five matches were to be played in Pakistan, and the rest of the matches were said to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) denied PCB's proposal. Notably, if Pakistan have to participate in the Asia Cup they will have to play on a neutral venue. 

If Pakistan wants to keep the Asia Cup hosting rights, they will have to conduct the tournament in Sri Lanka, to which all other participating nations must agree. With all three countries rejecting the proposed hybrid model, PCB is likely to withdraw from the tournament. If this happens, UAE will get a spot to contest in the six-team tournament.

In addition, after the BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that the Indian cricket team will not tour Pakistan, PCB stated that they will take part in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be contested in India later this year. 

Pakistan rejects SLC's proposal to play some ODIs ahead of Asia Cup

Recently, PCB has reportedly refused Sri Lanka's proposal to play an ODI series when the Babar Azam-led side tour the island nation for a two-Test series after SLC offered to host all the matches of the continental championship. According to a PCB source, PCB has rejected the proposal due to the strained relations between the two cricket governing bodies.