Asia Cup 2023 Deadlock Continues: PCB Sends SOS to ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has received an urgent plea from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi to intervene in the ongoing stalemate regarding the Asia Cup 2023. PCB is pushing for a hybrid model to be accepted, and has threatened to boycott the tournament if it is not. On the other hand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is confident that Pakistan will participate in the event regardless.
ICC Top Brass Visit Pakistan
When the ICC’s top brass, including President Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice, visited Pakistan last week, Sethi had a lengthy discussion with them regarding the Asia Cup dispute. It is noteworthy that the ICC is worried about the tense relationship between India and Pakistan, with each country hosting two ICC events in 2023 and 2025 respectively.
Potential Impact on World Cup 2023
Should Pakistan decide to pull out of the Asia Cup 2023, it could have a severe impact on the World Cup 2023. Pakistan could refuse to play in India, which could cause further complications. Discussions on this matter will likely be on the agenda when Pakistan hosts the ICC in the near future.
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2023 deadlock is ongoing, and the PCB has requested assistance from the ICC. The ICC is concerned about the strained ties between India and Pakistan, and the potential impact on the World Cup 2023. It remains to be seen if the ICC will be able to resolve the dispute and ensure that both countries participate in the upcoming ICC tournaments.