KARACHI: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi, spoke out against the protracted standoff over the Asia Cup and reaffirmed his commitment to holding onto the hosting rights.

Sethi, in an interview with a local sports channel, categorically stated that there is no chance that the PCB will lose the hosting rights of the Asia Cup and suffer huge financial loss. “It is simple, we worked out a plan to host Asia Cup on a hybrid model. If India don’t want to play in Pakistan, we will host them at a neutral venue,” he said. “We presented the hybrid model in the ACC meeting. Pakistan and India will play each other at least twice. This match generates more than half of the revenue. We have calculated the extra budget and told ACC about it.“If they [India] are agreed to play in Pakistan, they are welcome. If they want to play at a neutral venue, we are ready. There is no option other than hosting this event otherwise we will not play.”

The PCB management committee chair further revealed that the cricket board has completed its planning including the schedule of the tournament, based on the hybrid model and also presented it in the ACC meeting. “We have prepared a schedule and already presented it in the ACC meeting. We have also made a plan for logistics. On our side, everything is final. We just need a green signal,” he shared. The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup and Pakistan’s participation in the Men’s ODI World Cup has been in jeopardy after the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour Pakistan for the aforementioned tournament on political grounds. The BCCI maintained their stance of not touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup, while the PCB was adamant that if they do not, then Pakistan might not travel to India for the World Cup in October-November.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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