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'I cannot do much about it but...': After rejecting 'hybrid model' for 2023 Asia Cup, PCB's likely chairman Zaka Ashraf takes a U-turn

Zaka Ashraf, who is likely to succeed Najam Sethi as Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new chairman in the coming days, made a controversial statement on June 21 (Wednesday), revealing that he was not in favour of ‘hybrid model’ of

SportsTak

• Thu • 22 Jun 2023

Zaka Ashraf, who is likely to succeed Najam Sethi as Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new chairman in the coming days, changed his stance on the 'hybrid model' put in place for the upcoming 2023 Asia Cup. After claiming that he had rejected the ‘hybrid model’, the likely-to-be new PCB chief said that he will ‘honour the commitment’ and the continental tournament will take place in a hybrid manner.

"The first point is that I had rejected the hybrid model (for Asia Cup) in the past itself - because I do not agree with it. The board of the Asian Cricket Council had decided that it should be held in Pakistan, then we should host it," Ashraf said during a press conference.

Soon after making the claim in the press conference, Ashraf changed his stance and affirmed that the upcoming Asia Cup will take place in a hybrid manner as decided by the ACC.

"In my personal opinion, this whole hybrid model isn't beneficial for Pakistan and I didn't like it," Ashraf told ESPNCricinfo.

"Being a host, Pakistan should have negotiated better to make sure that the entire tournament should have played in Pakistan. Sri Lanka taking the bigger lot of games, leaving Pakistan with only four games, isn't in the best interest of our country.

"But I see the decision has been made, so we have to go with it. I will not block or have any intention not to comply with the decision. I cannot do much about it but to honour the commitment. But going forward, every decision we make will be made for and in the interest of the country," he added.

Pakistan will host four matches of the Asia Cup while the remaining nine matches will be played in Sri Lanka. The 2023 Asia Cup will begin on August 31 while the final of the tournament has been scheduled for September 17.

As per the format, the six teams will be divided into two groups with each group having three teams each. The top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then cross swords in the title clash.

A total of 13 matches will be played in the tournament. The 2023 Asia Cup will be played in a 50-over format and will serve as a preparation ground for the ODI World Cup which is scheduled to take place later in the year.