Zaka Ashraf, the likely new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has rejected the proposed “hybrid model” for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in September. Ashraf stated that he had previously rejected the hybrid model and believes that if the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decided the tournament should be held in Pakistan, then Pakistan should host it.
Ashraf’s refusal to accept the hybrid model could potentially jeopardize Pakistan’s participation in the 2023 World Cup. It is anticipated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will also take a strong stance, and if Pakistan deviates from the agreed-upon decision by ACC members, finding a middle ground might be challenging.
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Despite Ashraf’s opposition, the ACC executive body has already approved the hybrid model for the Asia Cup, and an ACC board member stated that there would be no changes to the agreed-upon model. They added that Ashraf is free to express his views on the matter.
Ashraf is one of the two nominees selected for the PCB chairman’s position by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who has the final say in the appointment as the patron-in-chief of the board. Ashraf’s appointment is expected to be a formality. The hybrid model was accepted by the ACC, led by BCCI President Jay Shah, after India made it clear that they would not travel to Pakistan due to the ongoing geopolitical situation.
Initially, it was decided that four matches of the Asia Cup would be held in Pakistan, including Pakistan’s group league match against Nepal, as well as matches involving Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in Lahore. However, there has been a significant change in the situation in the last 48 hours following the resignation announcement of Najam Sethi, the former chairman, on Twitter.