Pakistan likely to host Asia Cup, India matches likely to be played in overseas venue

The ACC is currently planning a schedule and travel plan which will be agreeable to all the participating nations, plus the broadcasters.

Pakistan likely to host Asia Cup, India matches likely to be played in overseas venue

Najam Sethi; Jay Shah

After several months of tension between the two boards- the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the venue for Asia Cup 2023, reports have emerged they have come to a mutual agreement. Pakistan is likely to host the tournament, however, for India, an overseas venue will be chosen. India will play all their games at that venue and not in Pakistan.

Last year in October, Jay Shah said that Asia Cup 2023 was to be hosted in a neutral venue because India won’t send their players to Pakistan. It triggered tensions between the two boards, and the then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja issued a statement, declaring Pakistan players won’t go to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup. And PCB also threatened to pull itself out of the 2023 Asia Cup tournament altogether.

For the same reason, an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting was held in Bahrain, but neither party couldn’t reach a resolution. After other rounds of informal discussions in Dubai, it is learned that UAE, Oman, Sri Lanka, and England are in contention to host five India matches, including at least two India-Pakistan clashes. The PCB was represented by chairman Najam Sethi, while the BCCI team had secretary Jay Shah and Arun Dhuman, the governing council chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sethi stayed glued to the stance that Pakistan would pull out of the tournament altogether if they are denied the hosting rights. The BCCI pointed out that when Pakistan could not travel to India back in 2018 for the Asia Cup due to political tensions, India successfully hosted the tournament in the UAE. At one point, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had offered to swap the hosting rights but PCB rejected it.

Related: Fans call Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma ‘best couple’ at Indian Sports Honours 2023

India and Pakistan are likely to face each other three times in 2023 Asia Cup

Pakistan likely to host Aisa Cup, India matches likely to be played in overseas venue
IND vs PAK

The report further stated that the weather is likely to play a key role in determining the second venue for India’s matches. UAE has around 40 degrees celsius in September, while Oman’s capital Muscat’s temperature may remain lower.

The six-team tournament is divided into two groups. India and Pakistan have been grouped together (and will be joined by the winner of the qualification tournament), while the other group has Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The tournament, which will start in September, will have 13 matches, including the final.

Like the 2022 Asia Cup, the top two teams from both groups will advance to the Super 4s and the top two teams from there will lock horns in the summit clash. India and Pakistan are likely to square off three times.

The ACC is currently planning a schedule and travel plan which will be agreeable to all the participating nations, plus the broadcasters. The final call is yet to be taken on the same, and before announcing it, the plan will be sent to the respective governments of all the nations.

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