Reports: PCB finalises two venues for hybrid model of Asia Cup 2023

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalized two new venues for the hybrid model amid a dispute between Pakistan and India for the Asia Cup 2023. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) previously refused to send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup due to the political tensions between the two countries. PCB, on the other hand, also indicated that they will not compete in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which will be held in India if India will not travel to their country.

During an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in May, PCB chief Najam Sethi recommended a hybrid model for hosting the multi-nation event, with India playing their matches in the United Arab Emirates. However, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) both rejected the proposal. Following this, Sethi suggested the idea of hosting the Asia Cup in England while talking to an Indian media outlet. 

According to a report by Geo News, the four matches in the first phase of the continental championship will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the remainder of the tournament taking place at the Dubai International Stadium. Notably, PCB is hopeful of selling more tickets in Dubai than in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the PCB is not interested in staging the game outside of Pakistan since it would jeopardize its efforts to bring international cricket back to the country.

Sethi told the media on the sidelines of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting that if India refuse to come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Pakistan's prospects of going to India for the 50-over World Cup are slim. He went on to say that if such things happen, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer.

“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer.

“There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches," Sethi said.