Asia Cup: Pakistan's hybrid model informally rejected by BCCI

BCCI are not going to back the Pakistan Cricket Board's proposed hybrid model for the Asia Cup, which suggests all India matches be played in the UAE instead of at host Pakistan. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the Asian Cricket Council chairman, has made the nation's stance clear to other officials.

ACC officials were present in Ahmedabad for the IPL 2023 final on May 28 (Sunday) and had an informal meeting with the BCCI senior official. The rejection of hybrid model would mean Pakistan may boycott the Asia Cup as PCB chief Najam Sethi earlier stated the same. He also cleared that the Pakistan team won't travel to India as well.

"Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already told the PCB that they have no issues playing their games in Pakistan," an ACC board member told PTI. "But India is not keen on supporting the hybrid model. Now, the impasse hasn't been broken and the final decision will only be taken at ACC executive board meeting that Jay (Shah) will have to summon."

The ACC executive body has 25 members -- 5 Test-playing nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka



and Afghanistan), 3 with ODI and T20I status and 17 more with only T20 status. The ACC official also cleared that the hybrid model can't be put to vote at the next ACC meeting as only six of the 19 member nations will participate in the continental event.

"There has to be a middle of the road solution as you can't put this hybrid model to vote. I mean if there are six nations playing the event, what is the locus standi of the 19 other nations who won't play the tournament? On what basis will they vote when they have no stake?" the ACC member said. 

The hybrid model does have a logistical issue. What Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi has told the ACC is that having the Asia Cup in two countries means double mileage for broadcasters but the BCCI feels that it will be a logistical nightmare considering the UAE might not be the neutral venue. 

In fact, the PCB has already told the ACC that they would expect at least 0.5 million USD from gate receipts of the two Indo-Pak matches if they are held in Sri Lanka, as the capacity of Galle or Premadasa Stadium isn't as much as Dubai.