In a major breakthrough development, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced on Thursday that the stalemate over the hosting of the Asia Cup 2023 has come to an end.
The tournament, featuring six nations from Asia, will now be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka based on a hybrid model.
The proposal for the hybrid model was put forward by the official Asia Cup host, Pakistan, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to tour Pakistan last year.
Under the hybrid model, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suggested that matches involving India could be played in Sri Lanka, a neutral venue. India, however, will not be playing any of its matches in Pakistan, according to a PCB statement.
The ACC statement read, “We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from August 31 to September 17, 2023, and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal compete in a total of 13 exciting One-Day International (ODI) matches.
The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model, with four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches played in Sri Lanka.”
PCB Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi said, “Our passionate fans would have loved to see the Indian cricket team in action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCI’s position. Like the PCB, the BCCI also requires government approval and clearance before crossing borders.”
Sethi thanked the ACC for accepting the hybrid-model proposal and emphasized that the PCB would ensure the successful delivery of the event. He also mentioned the importance of the Asia Cup as a prelude to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February/March 2025.
This decision marks the first time since 2008 that matches of a multi-nation cricket tournament will be staged in Pakistan. The ACC’s acceptance of the hybrid model is seen as a positive step in preserving the unity of the council and promoting the growth of cricket in the subcontinent.
The PCB is now set to engage in discussions with the ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket to finalize the operational and logistical details. Their aim is to provide an exceptional experience for the participating teams and ensure the successful delivery of the Asia Cup, which holds significance for the sides featuring in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India in October/November.
