In an effort to break the logjam of the Asia Cup 2023 venue, reports have suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered the solution that India might play all of its Asia Cup tournament matches in UAE, while Pakistan plays its games at home while remaining the hosts as well.
In such a scenario, the UAE will also host the final if India qualifies for it, according to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source.
An emergent meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was held in Bahrain on February 4 at the behest of PCB chief Najam Sethi after it released the itinerary and Pakistan wasn't named the hosts of the tournament.
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BCCI secretary and ACC chief Jay Shah had already announced in October 2022 that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and the tournament will be moved out of Pakistan. This led to some stern response from former PCB chief Ramiz Raja, that if India doesn’t come to Pakistan for the Asia cup, then Pakistan won't travel to India for the World Cup 2023.
After replacing Raja, new PCB chief Najam Sethi has tried to find some solution while keeping up the threat of pulling out of World Cup 2023 in case India doesn’t come to Pakistan.
But now reliable sources aware of the developments, told PTI the most likely solution to the problem appears to be that Pakistan will remain the host of the Asia Cup but some matches will also be held in the UAE where India may play all its games, including the final if necessary (if India qualifies for the final).
"Sethi made it clear at the ACC meeting that PCB wants to host the event and some of the matches at home," the source said.
PTI had reported earlier this month that UAE with three venues- Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah is the favorite to host the tournament but a decision has been withheld for the time being.
"A shift of venue has been postponed till March. But be rest assured that with India not going to Pakistan, the tournament will have to be shifted," a senior BCCI official had told PTI.
The ACC will meet again in March on the heels of the ICC meeting to find a solution for the Asia Cup hosting conundrum.
(PTI inputs)
