Jai Shah is the current President of ACC. (pic credit: sportzpix)
ACC president Jay Shah will hold talks with the heads of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards on the sidelines of the IPL final, after which an emergency meeting of the ACC is likely to be held in the next 7-10 days.
A decision regarding the venue of the Asia Cup 2023 is likely to be taken in the next ten days. The presidents of the Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards are in Ahmedabad to watch the IPL 2023 final on May 28, and discussions on the sidelines of the title clash will help frame the future course of action.
After the BCCI SGM on 27 May, ACC President Jay Shah said that there would be an update on the tournament after a meeting with ACC members.
“The future of Asia Cup 2023 will be decided after a meeting with ACC members (Test playing nations) and associate nations,” Jay Shah said.
The ACC is likely to hold an emergent meeting in the “next 7-10 days” and the views of other members will also be discussed. No venue has been decided for the meeting and it may be held in a virtual manner.
“The emergency ACC meeting is likely to be held in the next 7-10 days. In person or virtual but a meeting is likely to be called where views of other ACC members on Asia Cup will also be shared and discussed.”
PCB chief Najam Sethi has been repeatedly making statements in the media to try to retain at least some fixtures in Pakistan, which has the hosting rights for the 2023 edition.
Sethi has been advocating a “hybrid model” where matches involving India can be played at a neutral venue, while Pakistan and other teams play in Pakistan.
This model is not as straightforward as it sounds and there is a lot of logistics and financial planning involved. Broadcasters would need to arrange two sets of staff and there would be a lot of travel involved for the teams.
“The feasibility is not that difficult to understand. It is a one-day match. It will start at 1:30 pm and end at around 9:30 pm and then the teams will have to travel to another country. The ACC members will talk and discuss the feasibility of this. Will decide.
PCB is getting desperate
The standoff over the venue continues and the PCB is getting desperate as the tournament is completely moving away from them and could be played entirely in Sri Lanka. More threatening statements like not traveling to India for the 2023 World Cup are likely to come from the neighboring country and all efforts will be directed to air the hosting issue.
“These statements don’t matter. Let’s understand that they have to fight a battle of sorts to keep some sports in Pakistan. India is not going there, that’s for sure. And even the hybrid model Also comes with a lot of challenges and hassles and is not being encouraged by other ACC members as well. So if the entire tournament is shifted from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, the PCB will have to show its people back home that They tried and will try to blow it up.
At present, the situation in Pakistan is not ideal and the political and civil unrest in the country is likely to influence the decision making of other ACC members. A few weeks ago, there were angry protests against the army after former PM Imran Khan was arrested in dramatic fashion.
India vs Pakistan Broadcaster’s delight
With no bilateral action between the arch-rivals due to the political situation, ICC events and the Asia Cup are the only times fans get to see them in action. The ICC event will see them once or at most twice but the Asia Cup, which is considered to be one of the top five multi-team tournaments, is scheduled with maximum India-Pakistan action. In 2022, India played Pakistan twice and could play each other again if the Rohit Sharma-led side reaches the final.
Sustainability remains a hot asset for broadcasters even in neutral venues. India last toured Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup and Pakistan toured India in 2016 for the T20 World Cup. ACC meeting after IPL 2023 final.
“One can afford not to have an India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. It would not be an ideal situation for anyone – sponsors, broadcasters, organisers, boards, no one,” says an industry source.
