The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly displeased with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board’s (SLC) decision to express its desire to host the entire Asia Cup, leading to strained relations between the two boards. The PCB has declined the offer from Sri Lanka to play a bilateral One-Day International (ODI) series in the island nation, further exacerbating the tension.
The conflict arose after the SLC proposed hosting the entire Asia Cup, replacing the four games initially scheduled to be held in Pakistan according to the “Hybrid Model” proposed by Najam Sethi. This move has not been well-received by the PCB, causing the relations between the two boards to sour. The PCB turned down Sri Lanka’s proposal to play a few ODIs in the country, indicating its dissatisfaction with the SLC’s interference in hosting the Asia Cup.
Pakistan is set to visit Sri Lanka in July for two Tests as part of the next ICC World Test Championship cycle. The SLC suggested that Pakistan also play a few ODIs, as they are hopeful of securing a spot in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka believes their team would benefit from more exposure before the main event in October. However, the PCB initially considered the proposal but has now rejected it.
The rejection of Sri Lanka’s offer indicates the PCB’s discontent with the SLC’s decision to host the Asia Cup in September. It was Pakistan’s turn to host the regional event at home, and the PCB expected Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to support their proposal. PCB chairman Najam Sethi had hoped that these boards would convince the Indian Cricket Board and other Asian Cricket Council members to play three to four games in Pakistan before moving the tournament elsewhere. However, Sethi is disappointed with the response he has received, particularly during meetings between board heads and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah during the IPL final.
Reports suggest that the BCCI and Jay Shah have rejected Sethi’s hybrid model proposal and prefer Sri Lanka as the host for the Asia Cup. The PCB has not officially responded to these reports, but insiders indicate that the board is preparing to make strong decisions regarding the Asia Cup and the World Cup if the BCCI does not change its stance.
The tension between the PCB and SLC, coupled with the disappointment in the response from the Bangladesh and Afghanistan boards, highlights the challenges in organizing the Asia Cup and reaching a consensus among the Asian cricket boards. The PCB’s stance suggests that it is determined to ensure that Pakistan gets its fair share of hosting rights and will take a firm approach if necessary. The situation remains unresolved, and the future of the Asia Cup and the involvement of different cricket boards are still uncertain.
