The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are reportedly at loggerheads over a financial dispute regarding the hosting of the Asia Cup 2023.
Last year, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the tournament due to political tensions between both countries. After several discussions, all boards agreed for a hybrid model with Sri Lanka playing a major hosting role. However, the aftermath involves a dispute over who bears the additional expenses.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and PCB collaborated to split the event and move it to Sri Lanka. The decision resulted added expenses for chartered flights, hotels, venue fees, and travel. SLC, not the official host, expressed reluctance to share the financial expenses, claiming it did not earn extra from the tournament.
Now, the PCB is urging the ACC to cover the additional expenses, arguing that the decision to shift the hosting rights was made by the governing body.
During a recent ACC council meeting in Bali, tensions rose as SLC made it clear it wouldn’t absorb the expenses. ACC chief Jay Shah and SLC president Shami Silva conveyed to acting PCB chairman Khawar Shah and CEO Salman Naseer to cover the expenses.
Shah reportedly emphasized that, since Pakistan remained the host, the dues should be cleared by the PCB since Sri Lanka’s facilities were utilized.
“When the financial dispute was discussed by the acting chairman of the PCB, Khawar Shah, and CEO Salman Naseer (in Bali), Jay Shah and the SLC were on the same page,” a source was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times.
CEO Salman Naseer assured SLC that some bills were under verification and would be settled soon. However, the dispute regarding expenses related to chartered flights remains unresolved.
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