The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported quoting sources that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unhappy with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after they stated a desire to host the whole Asia Cup in 2023. According to reports, SLC accepted the proposal to host the Asia Cup thanks to the influence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC). In discussions with SLC officials, Jay Shah, president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and general secretary of the BCCI, reportedly proposed that they host the Asian event.
It should be recalled that India refused to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup owing to political sway on their end.
As a result, PCB showed flexibility in their strategy and provided a hybrid format to host the multi-nation occasion.
In the hybrid form, PCB offered two choices. In the first option, Pakistan would host all other matches while a neutral venue would host India’s matches. In a different scenario, Pakistan would host four of the group stage matches in the first phase while the second phase, which would feature matches for the Indian team before the next set of matches and the final, would be held at a neutral site. Behind closed doors, BCCI has been influencing member boards rather than deliberating on possible options.
PCB is not happy with the effect that SLC has on BCCI policy. PTI reports that PCB refused SLC’s proposal to change a two-match Test series into ODIs in July of this year.
The Sri Lankan board’s choice to step in and offer to host the Asia Cup in September when it is Pakistan’s turn to host the regional event at home is a strong hint, a PCB source told PTI.
A PCB source said that the rejection of the Lankans’ demand to play a few One-Day International games in Sri Lanka next month was “an example of the increasingly strained relations between the two boards.”
