"Understand BCCI's Position": PCB Chief On Need For Asia Cup Hybrid Model

16.06.2023 - 04:31 sports.ndtv.com

Ending months of speculation around Asia Cup, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday announced that the tournament will be staged in a hybrid model with four games in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka from August 31 to September 17.

The deadlock over the staging of the 50-over tournament was broken last week when the Jay Shah-led ACC accepted Pakistan Cricket Board's hybrid model of conducting four non-India games in Pakistan.

The hybrid model was proposed as the BCCI had made it clear that it won't send its team to Pakistan due to the longstanding geo-political tensions between the two countries. "We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches. "The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka," said the ACC in a statement.

The 2023 edition will feature two groups, with two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four stage. The top-two teams from the Super Four stage will then face off in the final.

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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was quick to share his take on the India vs Pakistan showdown at the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, after the International Cricket Council announced the schedulef or the tournament. Ganguly, downplaying the India vs Pakistan rivalry, said that India's contests with Australia are more interesting. However, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali isn't in agreement with the former BCCI president's opinion, suggesting no contest is bigger than the Indo-Pak game.

What India's Squad For Asia Cup 2023 Might Look Like

Though the schedule for the Asia Cup is yet to be announced, the structure of the tournament is already out, with the event set to take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a 'hybrid' format. The Indian cricket team, who last won the tournament in 2018, would be raring to add to their tally this time around. But, with there remaining big question marks over the availability of certain players, the task for Rohit Sharma and Co. would not be the easiest. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shreyas Iyer are all on the sidelines, nursing their injuries.

Report Reveals Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul's Possible Date Of Return To Action

India will be playing against their World Test Championship final opponents Australia in their opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on October 8 in Chennai. Before playing in the marquee ICC event, Team India will be featuring in the Asia Cup 2023. The Rohit Sharma-led side has been missing out on the services of their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, since September 2022 due to injury but there is a good news that he might make a comeback for Team India in the Asia Cup. Not only him, but also batter KL Rahul, who had sustained a knee injury during IPL 2023, is also likely to play in Asia Cup.

"Adding Anti-India Sentiment For...": 1983 World Cup Winner On Pakistan's Venue Plea

Following the announcement of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 India schedule and venues, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan said that it is not possible for Pakistan to "cherry pick" the venues it wants to play at since it is an ICC event. He also said that ICC and BCCI are on the same page about the schedule and the match between India and Pakistan should be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is "one of the finest stadiums in the world."

Pakistan: High Court Issues Stay Order Against PCB Chairman Elections

The Balochistan High Court has issued a stay order on the elections for the new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman till July 17, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. The Court was hearing a case that claimed that the governing board of the PCB was formed in violation of the 2014 constitution. The Court did not hear the PCB's arguments and issued notices to all stakeholders to attend the next session. A number of writ applications were filed in several Pakistani courts on Monday morning, 24 hours before the election that might have resulted in Zaka Ashraf becoming PCB chairman, to suspend the entire process.

Pakistan foreign ministry evaluating World Cup participation in India

Pakistan's foreign ministry said it is "evaluating all aspects" of the country's participation in this year's 50-overs World Cup in India with bilateral cricket stalled between the South Asian neighbours due to soured political relations.