Sri Lanka and Bangladesh support BCCI’s demand to shift Asia Cup 2023 from Pakistan

Harshit Sachan May 8, 2023

0 10 2 minutes read

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh support BCCI’s demand to shift Asia Cup 2023 from Pakistan — Image Courtesy: All About Cricket/Twitter

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket boards have reportedly supported the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take the elite continental tournament out of Pakistan. The BCCI has refused to participate in the championship, and Pakistan was given the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2023. However, it seems as if the tournament is all set to move out of the scheduled host country.

Neutral venue demand

Reports suggest that both the cricket boards, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have shown interest in hosting the tournament this year. In doing so, they will meet the BCCI’s demand of ensuring that the event is held at a neutral venue and not in Pakistan. In such a scenario, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is more than keen to consider replacing Pakistan with United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The president of ACC, Jay Shah, after careful consideration of the financial losses that the broadcasters will have to bear in case Pakistan rule themselves out of the event, has assured them that it would be duly compensated in the future in a series involving India, the report further stated. The controversy surrounding the Asia Cup is unlikely to end anytime soon with PCB chairman Najam Sethi making it clear that Pakistan will not travel to India if the BCCI is not willing to send their team for the Asia Cup, earlier scheduled to be held in their country.

Asia Cup 2023 :

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have backed BCCI’s decision not to travel Pakistan

Both have also shown interest to host the tournament

If Pakistan pulls out of the tournament then ACC is looking to include UAE team to the tournament

Source- Times now pic.twitter.com/fV3M2ZZrki
— All About Cricket (@allaboutcric_) May 8, 2023

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier proposed a hybrid model to host the Asia Cup 2023 where India can play their matches at a neutral venue. Still, the BCCI is likely to strike down any such proposal. PCB chairman Najam Sethi had earlier stated that if the BCCI does not send its team for the Asia Cup, then Pakistan would not allow their team to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. He further added that cricket would be the ultimate sufferer.

Possible consequences

“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi had reportedly told reporters. “There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” he further added.

With the tournament potentially being held in a neutral venue, the PCB may suffer financial losses. Also, the Men in Green refusing to participate in the tournament would result in significant financial losses for the broadcasters. However, with the support of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the BCCI may be able to ensure that the tournament is held in a neutral venue and that the financial losses are duly compensated in the future in a series involving India.