Sri Lanka And Bangladesh Give Support India Over Pakistan On Hosting The Asia Cup 2023- Report
May 8, 2023 at 5:19 PM
According to GEO News, the cricket boards of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have reportedly offered their support to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to move the prestigious continental event out of Pakistan after India declined to participate in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament if it was hosted in Pakistan.
Pakistan was chosen to host Asia Cup 2023, however, given recent developments, it doesn’t seem like the event will still happen there.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously suggested a hybrid hosting structure in which India would have played its matches at a neutral venue, but the BCCI rejected the idea.
When the BCCI refused to send their team for the Asia Cup, which was earlier scheduled to be held in their country, PCB chairman Najam Sethi made it clear that Pakistan will not travel to India for the World Cup in 2023.
“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer.
There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” Sethi had reportedly told reporters.
Sri Lanka And Bangladesh Cricket Boards Support BCCI; Offer To Host The Asia Cup 2023
Additionally, according to reports, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s cricket boards have expressed interest in hosting the tournament this year, which would in some way satisfy the BCCI’s requirement that the event be hosted at a neutral location rather than in Pakistan.
If the Asia Cup is shifted out of Pakistan and the Men in Green decide not to participate in the competition, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is more than willing to accept the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the host.
After carefully assessing the financial costs that the broadcasters will incur should Pakistan opt not to take part in the competition, ACC president Jay Shah has made the broadcasters an assurance that they will be appropriately compensated going forward in a series that includes India.
