The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the dates and venues for the Asia Cup 2023 last month, agreeing to PCB’s demand of conducting the continental tournament with a hybrid model.
The Asia Cup was supposed to be solely hosted by Pakistan, but BCCI refused to travel to the neighbouring country citing a lack of clearance from the government and security reasons.
Subsequently, Najam Sethi – the chairman of the dissolved cricket management committee of the PCB – proposed a hybrid model to host the multi-nation event, which was accepted by the ACC members including India.
Following the approval of the hybrid model, the ACC confirmed that four matches will be played in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka with the competition to be held from August 31 to September 17.
However, a report published in PTI on Saturday (July 15) claimed that the PCB will try to get more matches of the Asia Cup to be staged in Pakistan when the ACC board meets in Dubai on July 16.
According to the report, the new PCB cricket committee chief Zaka Ashraf has made his intentions clear to the ACC member board officials who were present in Durban for the ICC meetings earlier this week.
“Pakistan will take the stance at the ACC meeting that with a rainy weather forecast for venues in Sri Lanka which is to host nine games of the Asia Cup, Pakistan should be allowed to host more than four games at home,” PTI quoted a PCB source as saying.
The ACC is meeting to finalize the fixtures for the Asia Cup. Dambulla would reportedly host the two high-voltage India versus Pakistan matches.
The source said that apart from Lahore, Zaka Ashraf wants more matches so that they can use other venues as well including Multan.
“The authorities in charge have expressed their desire to commence the event with a match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan where they expect a bigger crowd compared to Lahore,” he added.
The PCB officials are fairly optimistic that they will get the opportunity to host more matches.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal will take part in the marquee tournament, which will be played in a 50-over format.
(With PTI Inputs)
