According to multiple reports, the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup is likely to be moved out of Pakistan, with Sri Lanka emerging as the possible destination. This development takes place after India had previously announced their decision of not traveling to the neighbouring nation for the tournament.
The hosting rights of the sixteenth edition of the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held between 2-17 September, were initially with Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, made its stance very clear by opting for venue relocation.
It was previously expected that a resolution will be reached, wherein solitarily India’s matches will be relocated to a neutral venue, with Pakistan retaining their hosting rights for the other games. Yet, owing to logistical challenges, it is now expected that the tournament will be moved out of Pakistan altogether.
“ACC has always maintained that in principle the 'hybrid model' is unacceptable and the budgetary sanctions can never be passed. Also, it's not about Pakistan hosting its own matches. It also means that if India and Pakistan are in same group, the third team will be travelling to and fro between Dubai and a city in Pakistan,” a source in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said, as per quotes in PTI.
“Also logistically, the broadcasters wouldn't want to send separate units in two countries. Sri Lanka, just like UAE, doesn't require inter-city flights, whether you play at the Khettarama (Premadasa Stadium), SSC or Galle or Kandy,” the source further elaborated on the rationale.
Four Nations Back India, All Eyes on PCB’s Plans
It is also reported that besides Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have also supported the idea of the competition taking place in a solitary venue, as opposed to the hybrid model which requires teams to switch between countries.
Having previously threatened to pull off of the competition, should Asia Cup be moved out of Pakistan, it now remains to be seen how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will react to the relocation.
According to reports in Pakistani media, the green shirts might consider boycotting the tournament and organising a bilateral series, or a tri-nation series with non-Asia Cup teams in their backyard.
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