Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani is hopeful of Team India pariticpating in the Asia Cup 2023, to be held in Pakistan.

Ehsan Mani has revealed that the Asia Cup will be hosted by Sri Lanka in 2022 and by Pakistan in 2023. This points to the fact that the Asia Cup 2021, which was supposed to be held in June, will not go ahead.

Ehsan Mani told Jang newspaper, "In 2022 Sri Lanka will have it (Asia Cup) and in 2023 Pakistan will be hosting the regional event. I am optimistic that by the time the political relations between the two countries would have improved and this would pave the way for the Indian team to come to Pakistan."

"In recent days there have been some positive signs through backdoor channels and hopefully the ice will melt in the relations," he added.

BCCI surprised with PCB chief Ehsan Mani’s remarks on visa assurance for T20 World Cup 2021

The Asia Cup was already under threat this year as the PCB announced the rest of the PSL 6 matches to be held in June while the Indian cricket team will be traveling to England to play the World Test Championship Final in the same month.

Mani confirmed, "There is no question of the Asia Cup being held this year as we are very busy and don't have time to spare this year. There was a small window in June in which we are going to play the rest of the Pakistan Super League matches."

"The Indian team will play the final of the Test Championship against New Zealand. They have to go to England two weeks ago and stay in quarantine so the Indian team is also busy," he added.

Earlier, there were also talks of Team India sending their B team for the Asia Cup but Mani revealed that there was no such official confirmation.

"We have also heard about the Indian board wanting to send a B team to Asia Cup but no one has spoken about it to us," he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)