Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi (C) celebrates with teammates. Photo: Reuters File
Will the Asia Cup be played this year? The concerns have been there given the political tension between Pakistan, who are to host the tournament and India. ESPNCricinfo reported today that Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) solution was to hold the matches in Pakistan while hosting India’s matches in UAE. The report says that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has rejected the idea of holding part of the tournament in UAE.
The BCB and SLC cited logistical challenges involved in travelling between Pakistan and UAE as per the report. The September heat in UAE has also been cited as an issue following PCB’s meeting with ACC yesterday at Dubai.
“We have written to the ACC to say that we are against the hybrid model,” Mohan de Silva, the SLC secretary, was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. “But beyond that, no final decision has been reached. It’s very hot in the UAE at that time of year.”
The BCB has so far not commented on the issue.
There have been suggestions that the tournament can be played in Sri Lanka with PCB holding hosting rights. “If the offer is there to play the tournament in Sri Lanka, we will take it,” Mohan said. “Pakistan will be the official hosts.”
The PCB has however not shown interest in playing the tournament without the hybrid model they have presented.
“The board reiterated its position that we would not play the Asia Cup if the Pakistan-plus-neutral-venue model is rejected,” a PCB official was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying.
