Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan wants to host more matches in Asia Cup
The complete schedule for the Asia Cup is yet to be finalized and it is expected to be released following the ACC meeting.
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A month before the Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a new set of demands, reviving the controversy surrounding the tournament's hosting. Sunday, July 16 at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) board meeting in Dubai, PCB is expected to request the opportunity to host additional matches in the tournament, according to reports.
As a result of India's reluctance to travel to Pakistan, the official host nation of the tournament, due to political concerns, the ACC announced in early June that the Asia Cup will be held in a hybrid format. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will jointly host the tournament commencing on August 31, with Pakistan hosting four games and Sri Lanka hosting nine.
In a new development, however, PCB cricket committee chairman Zaka Ashraf has conveyed Pakistan's demands to the ACC member board officials who were in Durban this week for the ICC meetings.
A PCB source was quoted by The Telegraph India as saying, "Pakistan will take the position at the ACC meeting that, due to the rainy weather forecast for venues in Sri Lanka, which will host nine games of the Asia Cup, Pakistan should be allowed to host more than four games at home."
The hybrid model was proposed by the former chairman of the PCB's cricket management committee, Najam Sethi, and adopted by all ACC members, including India.
Reports indicate that IND vs. PAK matches will be played in Dambulla.
Notably, the Asia Cup schedule has not yet been finalized and is anticipated to be released after the ACC meeting. The source revealed further that the two India-Pakistan matches will likely take place in Dambulla. Moreover, PCB desires to begin the tournament in Multan Stadium as opposed to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on the grounds that the smaller venue will result in a more crowded inaugural match.
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In the meantime, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal will compete in the ODI-formatted continental tournament. Two teams from each division will advance to the Super Four round. The best two teams from the Super Four stage will then meet in the championship match.
