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Published 06 Jun, 2023 12:33pm

‘Asia Cup boycott’ on cards for Pakistan

Pakistan are likely to pull out of the upcoming Asia Cup, claimed a report circulating in the Indian media.

The development comes after India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have reportedly rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s hybrid model.

As things stand, the Asia Cup boycott is on the cards for Pakistan as there is no option left after the aforementioned decision from other participating members.

In the hybrid model, Pakistan would host four to six matches of the six-nation tournament at home and India will play at a neutral venue. The same venue would also host the remaining matches including the final.

The idea was floated by the PCB after the Board of Control for Cricket in India refused to travel to Pakistan because of security concerns.

“It is just a formality now that the Asian Cricket Council executive board members meet virtually or a proper meeting is called later this month,” PTI citing its sources reported. “But the PCB is now aware that Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are not backing their hybrid model proposal for the Asia Cup.”

Moreover, the report said that PCB Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi is in touch with the Pakistan government official over the matter.

Sethi has repeatedly said that if the tournament is moved to a neutral venue from Pakistan, it will not take part in the competition.

“Pakistan only have two options. Play the tourney at a neutral venue or withdraw,” an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) source said.

Moreover, it said that in case Pakistan boycott the tournament, the tournament would still go ahead as planned. The broadcaster would renegotiate the deal.

As reported earlier, there is also a possibility that the tournament would be strapped entirely this year and other participating members would play a multi-nation series together.

A five-nation series is on the cards, the report concluded.

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