• Home
  • Latest
  • Pcb Proposes India To Play Their Asia Cup 2023 Matches At Neutral Venue

PCB Proposes India to Play Their Asia Cup 2023 Matches at Neutral Venue

image-lgrng1g1India to play Asia Cup games at neutral venue [Twitter]

In a significant development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have sent a proposal to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) about allowing India to play their Asia Cup 2023 matches at a neutral venue while other participating nations compete in Pakistan.

On Friday, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi confirmed that the PCB has approved the the hybrid model after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decision not to travel to Pakistan. 

Both India and Pakistan relations have soured due to geopolitical affairs as both teams have not played a bilateral series since 2012, and only play against each other in International Cricket Council-run events. 

The Asia Cup will commence on September 7, and will have as many as six teams participating — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are confirmed, while the final team will be the winner of the ongoing ACC qualifiers. 

As per PTI, Sethi has also been advised to go to India for the upcoming World Cup 2023, and the mood in Pakistan is to resume bilateral ties with its neighbouring country.

Here's what Sethi said

"We have decided on this hybrid model that Pakistan plays its Asia Cup matches at home and India their matches at a neutral venue and that is our proposal to the Asian Cricket Council. We have been told that, maybe, the ice will keep on melting. 

If this happens when the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan in 2025, India would consider playing in Pakistan. We have been advised to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue and also go to India for the World Cup,"

However, Sethi did mention that India should also oblige and shift Pakistan's matches to a neutral venue during the World Cup in October-November if BCCI plays their matches outside Pakistan in Asia Cup. 

The ACC, chaired by Jay Shah, is yet to respond to PCB's proposal, with several reports coming in that other nations also want to play the event at a neutral venue to save cost.