New DelhI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not support Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi’s proposed “hybrid model” of hosting the Asia Cup, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported yesterday. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), reiterated the Indian board’s stance in an unofficial meeting with some of the continental body’s members in Ahmedabad, the report said.

The implementation of the “hybrid model” would mean the group stage matches of the Asia Cup, other than those involving India, will be held in Pakistan before the tournament moves to a neutral venue. Shah and the BCCI, however, aren’t in favour of PCB’s proposal and want the tournament to be staged entirely at a neutral venue, preferably Sri Lanka. A final decision, however, can only be made by the all-powerful executive body of the ACC. “Now, the impasse hasn’t been broken and the final decision will only be taken at ACC executive board meeting that Jay (Shah) will have to summon,” an ACC board member told PTI.

“Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already told the PCB that they have no issues playing their games in Pakistan, “But India is not keen on supporting the hybrid model.” The ACC executive body has 25 members five Test-playing nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan), three with One-day International and T20I status and 17 more with only T20 status.

Could the issue of hybrid model be put to vote?

“There has to be a middle of the road solution as you can’t put this hybrid model to vote,” the member opined. “I mean if there are six nations playing the event, what is the locus standi of the 19 other nations who won’t play the tournament? On what basis will they vote when they have no stake?”

Sethi has told the ACC that having the Asia Cup in two countries means double mileage for broadcasters but the BCCI feels that it will be a logistical nightmare considering the UAE might not be the neutral venue.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 30 2023

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