The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially accepted the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the Asia Cup 2023 tournament, ending a deadlock that has lasted months. Under the hybrid model, Pakistan will host four matches, while the remaining nine matches will be played in Sri Lanka, a neutral venue requested by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, has announced that the complete schedule will be released within ten days.
The tournament will be played in a 50-over format, split into two phases from August 31 to September 17. Nepal will be making its debut appearance in an Asia Cup event, as this tournament serves as preparation for the ICC World Cup in India. Pakistan will play two matches at home and are expected to return to the country for the super-four stage match. Since India will play their matches in Sri Lanka, Pakistan could only play their group match in their country against Nepal, while the other three matches are likely to be played in the second group, featuring Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
Last year, BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup on political grounds. To rescue the event’s hosting rights, PCB offered two options under the hybrid model: India was requested to play their matches in a neutral venue while all other matches were to be played in Pakistan in the first option. In the second option, four group stage matches in the first phase were proposed to be played in Pakistan. In the second phase, matches of the Indian team followed by the next stage matches, including the final, were to be played at a neutral venue.
The Asia Cup tournament is a highly anticipated event for cricket enthusiasts worldwide, and the schedule announcement will be a relief to fans. With the tournament set to provide a much-needed opportunity for Asian teams to prepare for the ICC World Cup in India, cricket lovers can look forward to an exciting and action-packed tournament with all teams on top of their game.
