Pakistan Cricket Board have thrown yet another jolt. The Asia Cup 2023 is at crossroads again as ACC meets on Sunday to decide the course of action. PCB demanded more games despite earlier agreeing to only 4 matches in the tournament.
The ACC announced the dates for Asia Cup last month after acceptance of the hybrid model. The tournament will be held from August 31 to September 17. Pakistan will host 4 games, while Sri Lanka get 9.
Also Read: PCB stalls Asia Cup Schedule, wants BCCI-like revenue share from Sri Lanka leg
However, new PCB cricket committee chief Zaka Ashraf has made his intentions clear to the ACC member board officials. Though the full match schedule of the tournament is yet to be made public, Pakistan getting more games is unlikely. It is important to note that Ashraf was not appointed when ACC agreed on the schedule.
“Pakistan will take the stance at the ACC meeting that with a rainy weather forecast for venues in Sri Lanka which is to host nine games of the Asia Cup, Pakistan should be allowed to host more than four games at home,” said a PCB source.
The ACC is meeting to finalise the schedule for the Asia Cup. The hybrid model proposed by Najam Sethi, the chairman of the dissolved cricket management committee of the PCB, and was accepted by the ACC members including India.
Indications are that the two India-Pakistan matches in the tournament would be held in Dambulla.
The source said that instead of just Lahore, Zaka Ashraf wants more matches so that they can use other venues as well including Multan.
“The authorities in charge have expressed their desire to commence the event with a match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan where they expect a bigger crowd compared to Lahore,” he added.
They hold the belief that selecting Multan Stadium, which is smaller in size compared to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, will create a more packed atmosphere for the opening match.
Pakistani officials are hopeful that they will get the opportunity to host more matches
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow Asia Cup 2023 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Editors pick
