The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is planning to shift the Asia Cup 2023 from Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will be the likely host of the tournament. As soon as BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said that the Indian team would not cross the border, the decision to move the event from the original host nation was inevitable.
The tournament is tentatively scheduled to take place between September 2 and 17.
A final decision on the venue for the tournament is expected by the end of this month with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan backing the move to host the event in the island nation.
The decision currently appears to be a formality, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) continued interest in hosting the tournament at home and BCCI’s support from other ACC members. The PCB had proposed a hybrid approach to host the Asia Cup, wherein India’s matches alone would be staged in Dubai. This was done in response to the BCCI’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event due to a lack of government approval.
However, no one has expressed interest in that proposal, and the tournament broadcaster also voiced concerns about the logistics. The other boards were hesitant to play in the Gulf a month before the 50-over World Cup because September is peak summer in the United Arab Emirates.
UAE hosted the Asia Cup in 2018 when India was to host the tournament and Pakistan refused to tour India citing security concerns. The tournament in 2018 was played in the ODI format. Then again the UAE hosted the Asia Cup tournament in 2022 in the T20 format as Sri Lanka was not able to host the tournament due to their financial struggles at that time
Pakistan’s Participation A Question Mark
The ACC is expected to make a final choice in the coming weeks because teams are reluctant to risk players in intense heat and Sri Lanka Cricket has expressed interest in hosting the competition. Dambulla and Pallekele may serve as the locations if Sri Lanka is given the opportunity to host the event because the monsoon season often arrives in Colombo in September.
Reports coming out of Pakistan indicated that in case the Asia Cup is moved from the country, the PCB may not participate in the event. If they end up skipping that tournament, it will put a question mark on their participation in the World Cup too, which is set to be hosted by India in October-November.
If Pakistan confirms its participation, the Asia Cup would be a six-team event. Apart from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Nepal have qualified for the tournament by winning the ACC’s Premier Cup.
Also Read: Sri Lanka And Bangladesh Give Support India Over Pakistan On Hosting The Asia Cup 2023- Report