The location of the 2023 Asia Cup is a point of contention between the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Team India won’t visit Pakistan owing to security concerns, according to ACC president and BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who also added that the continental competition would be held at a neutral location.
Shah’s offer, however, did not sit well with PCB chairman Najam Sethi, who said that Pakistan may not visit India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup if India does not visit Pakistan.
During a recent ACC meeting, PCB recommended a hybrid concept for hosting the multi-nation event, with India’s matches taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Notably, both the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) rejected the PCB’s suggestion. In the midst of the argument, Najam Sethi has offered another intriguing idea for the location. The PCB chairman said that the event might take place in the United Kingdom while claiming that since Pakistan is the host, they have the right to decide where it will be held. “England could be a possibility as a venue for the Asia Cup,” Najam Sethi said on Sports Hour.
Everyone is aware of the rivalry between the two Asian cricket governing bodies. As a result of BCCI’s steadfast stance on not visiting Pakistan for the continental tournament, tensions between the two cricket-governing organizations have increased.
Pakistan relies on home games to prepare for the ODI World Cup.
In 2023, Pakistan has already welcomed New Zealand twice. The Green Brigade fell to the Blackcaps in the three-match ODI series that was played in January, but in a subsequent five-match ODI series played in Pakistan, the Babar Azam-led team rallied to overcome Tom Latham’s team 4-1. At 2-2, the five-match T20I series came to a close.
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