BCCI not keen on supporting PCB’s proposed hybrid model to host Asia Cup 2023, final call at ACC meeting: Report

There’s still uncertainty over the venue of Asia Cup 2023.

The BCCI and PCB are in a tussle over the staging of the Asia Cup 2023. While Pakistan have the hosting rights, the BCCI officials have time and again reiterated that India will not travel and the event would be shifted to a neutral venue.

As of today, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not agreed to the demand, leading to a deadlock.

Recently, PCB proposed a ‘hybrid model’ to host the tournament. In such a model, India would play their matches in UAE while Pakistan would play their matches in homeland. However, the Asian Cricket Council is yet to take a final call.

Meanwhile, a report published in PTI suggests that the BCCI will not support PCB chief Najam Sethi's proposed hybrid model of hosting the Asia Cup.

According to the report, ACC chairman Jay Shah, who is also the secretary of the BCCI, during an informal discussion with some of the continental body's members in Ahmedabad has made the Indian board's stance clear.

"Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already told the PCB that they have no issues playing their games in Pakistan. But India is not keen on supporting the hybrid model. Now, the impasse hasn't been broken and the final decision will only be taken at ACC executive board meeting that Jay (Shah) will have to summon," PTI quoted an ACC board member as saying.

The ACC executive body has 25 members – 5 Test-playing nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan), 3 with ODI and T20I status and 17 more with only T20 status.

When asked whether voting will be done to solve this issue, the ACC member replied: "There has to be a middle of the road solution as you can't put this hybrid model to vote. I mean if there are six nations playing the event, what is the locus standi of the 19 other nations who won't play the tournament? On what basis will they vote when they have no stake?"

The hybrid model is likely to pose a logistical challenge as well. While Sethi has told the ACC that having the Asia Cup in two countries means double mileage for broadcasters, the BCCI feels it will be a logistical nightmare considering the UAE might not be the neutral venue.

Moreover, PCB has reportedly told the ACC that they would expect at least 0.5 million USD from gate receipts of the two India-Pakistan matches if they are played in Sri Lanka, as the capacity of Galle or Premadasa Stadium isn't as much as Dubai.

(With PTI Inputs)