MM News

After Pakistan’s refusal to travel to India for Asia Cup 2023, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to shift the venue and a decision on an alternate venue is expected to be taken next month in March as BCCI secretary Jay Shah and PCB chairman Najam Sethi discussed the issue during a formal meeting in Bahrain on Saturday.

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As per reports, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with three venues — Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah — are favourites to host the tournament. However, the final decision in this regard has been withheld for the time being.

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Multiple reports suggest although the hosting rights of 2023 Asia Cup will remain with Pakistan, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might be forced to host the matches involving India, including the final in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Other member countries including India, also want the tournament to be held in UAE. Sri Lanka is also being looked as an alternative due to high ground and hospitality expenses in UAE. However, it was decided the Pakistan would retain the hosting rights regardless of wherever the event takes place.

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This comes after the BCCI stated that it will not be travelling to Pakistan to compete in the continental event. In a meeting held in Bahrain on Saturday (February 4) and attended by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), once again stated that India will not be travelling to Pakistan and that the tournament will be held elsewhere. The decision on the new venue is most likely to be announced next month.

As per an ACC official, if the tournament will be held in the UAE, there is every possibility that all the member nations will also get a chance to earn apart from the broadcast revenues.

“With India deciding against travelling to Pakistan, the tournament will have to be shifted. A tournament without superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit will have the sponsors back out. Hence UAE will be the best option as the venue,” said the official.

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It may be recalled that India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008, and there were chances that the Men in Blue would travel to Pakistan after almost 15 years later this year, but it is not happening. After BCCI made its choice very clear in the Asian Cricket Council meeting on Saturday, there are reports in Pakistani media that the Pakistan Cricket Board has also made itself clear that Pakistan’s men’s cricket team will not travel to India to take part in the ODI World Cup later this year if the Asia Cup tournament moves out of Pakistan.