The PCB’s hybrid mannequin answer to the Asia Cup will see 4 out of 13 matches being performed in Pakistan with the remainder – together with the ultimate – to be performed at a impartial venue, which might be the UAE. Najam Sethi, the board head, advised BBC’s Stumped podcast that he was nonetheless hopeful of the event being performed in Pakistan, regardless of two Asian Cricket Council (ACC) members elevating objections to a hybrid answer and the extra intractable drawback of India not being given permission to journey to Pakistan.
He additionally added that if the hybrid mannequin labored throughout the Asia Cup, it might pave the way in which for it for use within the one-day World Cup, to be held later this yr in India. Given the fraught and tense relations between India and Pakistan, Sethi mentioned there’s a “distinct risk” that the Pakistan authorities does not enable Pakistan to journey to India.
Sethi held a gathering with ACC officers in Dubai on Tuesday to attempt to discover a answer to the problems, and he believes the PCB has “bent over backwards” to accommodate the varied considerations. “The proposal that I submitted three days in the past takes care of all this,” he mentioned. “We play 4 matches in Pakistan, the groups come straight right here after which everyone strikes to the impartial venue wherever that could be. We play the remainder of video games there. I made the concession that within the occasion we get to the ultimate we play the ultimate in a impartial venue, whether or not in opposition to India or anybody else. We have bent over backwards to unravel all these points.”
Holding 4 matches in Pakistan, ESPNcricinfo understands, is to make sure the PCB’s long-term technique of high-profile worldwide cricket and the internet hosting of tournaments in Pakistan continues uninterrupted.
“My mandate given to me by the federal government and by the media and by the folks of Pakistan is that this needs to be an honourable and reciprocal association,” Sethi mentioned. “We’re pleased to play within the Asia Cup however it could possibly’t be that India refuses to return to Pakistan after which does not enable us to even host few of our matches at a impartial venue. Do not forget instantly after the Asia Cup, we now have the World Cup coming and it should be in India and it is an ICC occasion. What occurs if India does not come to…
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