PCB keen on hosting Asia Emerging Nations Cup despite BCCI's resistance

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has done a fabulous job to bring cricket back to the country. After a shocking incident in 2009, they were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from hosting any matches because no one wanted to visit the country. Pakistan had shifted their base to UAE where they played on flat tracks for 8 years until Lahore hosted a PSL final earlier this year.

PCB recently acquired the rights to host the Asia Emerging Nations Cup. After successfully hosting Sri Lanka in a T20I game a couple of months ago in October, they are fairly confident about hosting the Emerging Nations Cup. However, they have a few opponents who think otherwise. India and Bangladesh boards do not seem to be happy with the decision.

BCCI against Pakistan hosting the tournament

BCCI and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are against Pakistan hosting the Asia Emerging Nations Cup. Pakistan acquired the rights when Asia Cricket Council held the meeting in Lahore. Indian and Bangladeshi representatives were not present at the meeting. BCCI has raised concerns over the security of the players in the country.

A PCB official talked about this and said that PCB will do everything to host the cup in Pakistan. “Pakistan was given hosting rights when the ACC meeting was held in Lahore on October 29 and India and Bangladesh representatives were not present in that meeting. We will do everything in our power to ensure that we do host the Asian Emerging Nations Cup,” said the official as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Najam Sethi had announced that Pakistan will be hosting the Asia Emerging Nations Cup during the T20I against Sri Lanka on October 29. BCCI and Bangladesh are the nations opposing it. The official revealed that the main concern of BCCI is that with such political tension between the country, sending a team to Pakistan is not possible.

The official said, “The main objection raised by India is that in current political scenario India can’t send its team to play anywhere in Pakistan and it should have been consulted before deciding the venue.”

BCCI and PCB are already fighting it out ahead of the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee. The Pakistani board has filed a complaint claiming a compensation worth USD 60 million from their Indian counterparts. Since the BCCI failed to honour their MoU of hosting 6 series between the span of 2015 to 2023.