The fate of the Asia Cup 2023 hosting is yet to be decided but the latest turn of events could possibly bring some relief in the logjam between India and Pakistan. Amid the political tension between the neighbouring nations, there is a possibility that India could be offered to play their respective matches in UAE while the rest of the tournament might be hosted in Pakistan. The scenario also means, UAE will host the final if India manage to qualify for it.
Earlier this month, an emergent meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was held in Bahrain on the request of PCB chief Najam Sethi after the continental body released its itinerary and Pakistan wasn't named the hosts of the tournament. In the recently development, while addressing the media in Karachi on Thursday (February 16), Sethi said more discussions on the hosting of Asia Cup ODI tournament will be held next month on the sidelines of an ICC meeting as the matter 'remained unresolved'.
"What can I say about what happened in the Asian Cricket Council board meeting. There was no resolution," Sethi told reporters when asked if Pakistan will host the tournament in September.
Notably, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said that the Asia Cup 2023 will have to be shifted outside of Pakistan and only then would team India participate in the tournament. Due to the stained political relations between India and Pakistan, the two cricketing giants continue to keep their links alive with participation in the ICC-sponsored tournament and the continental events.
With India and Pakistan not moving an inch from their stance, the sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have told that the only possible solution to the issue will be to host the Asia Cup 2023 in two different venues. All the India games would be hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while the other games will be held in Pakistan.
Earlier Pakistan bagged the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2023 which is scheduled to played from in September this year.
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.
It will be interesting to see whether Pakistan and India can come in consensus on holding the marquee tournament in split venues.
