The emergency Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Bahrain on Saturday (February 4) which was conducted to decide the fate on Asia Cup 2023 hosting rights didn't yield much clarity. The final decision on whether Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan or not, will be taken in next ACC Executive Board meeting to be held in March 2023. The Board agreed to continue discussions on operations, timelines and any other specifics with a view to ensure the success of the tournament.
However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) didn't budge an inch from his stance of not travelling to Pakistan for the marquee tournament. While Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi is also adamant on hosting Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan.
“The BCCI’s stand will not change. We will not be travelling to Pakistan as we haven’t got any go-ahead from the government,” a BCCI source privy to the development said.
The Executive Board also approved of the inclusion of teams from Japan (JAPAN CRICKET ASSOCIATION) and Indonesia (PERSUTAN CRICKET INDONESIA) in the ACC pathway tournaments to participate in the events as invitees.
ACC Calendar: The Executive Board ratified ACC’s calendar of activities for the financial years 2023 and 2024.
The Executive Board further approved:
(a) Operational Budget for the years 2023 and 2024
(b) Distributions from Asia Cup 2
Pakistan is currently going through an economic crisis and inflation has hit the country very hard with the country's currency plummeting to Pakistani Rupee 277 against 1 US Dollar. Organising a high profile tournament like Asia Cup, even if ACC pays a grant could burn a hole in PCB coffers.
So strategically, if the tournament is held in the UAE, there is every possibility that all the member nations will also get to earn apart from the broadcast revenues.
In another decision, the ACC has decided to increase the annual budget allocated for Afghanistan Cricket Association to 15 percent from six.
The ACC has assured that it will help the Afghanistan board in all possible ways so that women's cricket can be revived in the country. Women are banned from playing sport under Taliban rule.
Earlier, PCB asked Indian cricket board secretary & ACC President Jay Shah for an emergency meeting to discuss Asia Cup hosting rights. However, Shah sent a clear message to PCB chief Najam Sethi that there is no chance of the Asia Cup being held in Pakistan in September.
In December last year, ACC chairman Shah had released the itinerary of the continental body and the venue of Asia Cup wasn't mentioned.
This led to Sethi accusing Shah of taking "unilateral decision", an allegation that ACC officially refuted stating that repeated emails to PCB seeking recommendations on the itinerary went unanswered.
In October last year, Shah, who is also the supremo of ACC, had officially told the media that India will not travel to Pakistan.
The erstwhile PCB chief Ramiz Raja had back then threatened that Pakistan will not travel to India for this year's 50 over World Cup.
