BCB and SLC object to PCB’s proposed hybrid format for hosting the 2023 Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have opposed the hybrid model for hosting the Asia Cup 2023 that the Pakistan Cricket Board suggested during a meeting with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Tuesday, May 9, in Dubai.

Because of India’s unwillingness to go to Pakistan because of political issues between the two countries, the PCB once again proposed the “hybrid model” to host the regional competition. In this format, India would play their matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Due to the logistical difficulties of traveling between Pakistan and a second nation during the Asia Cup, BCB and SLC rejected the model. One of the reasons both boards were against the model was the intense heat in the UAE during the first half of September.

“We wrote to the ACC to express our opposition to the hybrid concept. Beyond that, though, no definitive choice has been made. According to Mohan de Silva, the SLC secretary, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, it is extremely hot in the UAE at that time of year.

A PCB official disputed the claim and asserted that emails from both BCB and SLC confirming that they have no objections to playing in Pakistan have been provided to the board. The insider added that the Asia Cup was also played in the UAE around the same time period last year, from August 27 to September 11, but the boards are protesting this.

Originally scheduled to take place in India, the 2018 Asia Cup was later moved to the UAE and ran from September 15 to September 28. Due to political uncertainty in the nation, the event was also transferred from Sri Lanka in 2022 and was once again held in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan might adopt a similar strategy and continue to have the tournament’s hosting rights, but they would host it elsewhere. Sri Lanka is reportedly being discussed as a potential neutral site for the competition, and Mohan de Silva stated that SLC is prepared.

“We will accept the offer if it is made to play the event in Sri Lanka. The official hosts would be Pakistan, he said.

If the hybrid model is rejected, Pakistan won’t compete in the Asia Cup, according to a PCB official.
But PCB opposes the idea of a neutral location and has threatened to withdraw from the competition if the “hybrid model” is rejected.

A hybrid model that addresses logistical, travel, and manufacturing problems was provided by the PCB. The board restated its stance that, if the Pakistan-plus-neutral-venue format is rejected, we would not play in the Asia Cup, a PCB official told ESPNcricinfo.

India, Pakistan, and Nepal are all in the same group for the 2023 Asia Cup. The tournament’s final, which would be contested over 13 days just one month (likely) before the ODI World Cup 2023 in India, will have 13 matches total.