The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to agree to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposed hybrid model for hosting the upcoming Asia Cup in September.
The BCCI will not support the suggestion made by PCB head Najam Sethi to host the tournament through a hybrid model, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).The PCB offered two options in the hybrid model. The first option suggests that India plays their matches at a neutral venue while all other matches are held in Pakistan.
The second option proposes that four matches of the group stage take place in Pakistan, and the matches involving the Indian team and the subsequent stages, including the final, are played at a neutral venue.The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by its president Jay Shah, who is also the general secretary of the BCCI, has conducted several meetings on this matter, but a resolution has not been reached yet.
During an informal discussion with some ACC members in Ahmedabad, Shah made the Indian board’s stance clear.The final decision will be made by the executive body of the ACC, and a meeting is expected to take place soon.
While Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal reportedly have no objections to playing their matches in Pakistan, there is concern about the suitability of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue.
Some believe that the hot weather in the UAE could be challenging for players and may increase the risk of injuries before the important ICC World Cup, scheduled in India in October-November of this year.
