Asia Cup schedule delayed once again; PCB chief to meet Jay Shah next week - Reports

The delay and the fight around Asia Cup 2023 between Pakistan and India Cricket boards don't seem to end anytime soon. After heated arguments and a change of leadership in the PCB, both boards and ACC agreed for a hybrid model. This means Pakistan will play their games at home while India will play in Sri Lanka, including the final if they qualify.

However, last month, Najam Sethi set himself aside from the PCB chairperson post. He cited not wanting to be part of the politics around his post. He was replaced by another former chair, Zaka Ashraf. Ashraf recently said that if he was the chair at the time of the agreement, he would have ensured Pakistan got all the games. However, the veteran added that the board would fulfill the commitment

“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model. My personal opinion, since PCB comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India,” Pakistan’s minister in charge for sports, Ehsaan Mazari told Indian Express.

There is no question of changing the hybrid plan: Reports

Meanwhile, the schedule was set to be announced this week. However, another delay means another meeting between ACC, India, and Pakistan boards. On the other hand, an Indian board official said last week that there won't be any change in the hybrid model as it was PCB who requested the hybrid model.

“There is no question of changing the hybrid plan. Don’t forget it was PCB who requested the hybrid model. They may change stance with every new chairman but it does not work on the whims of one person. There is logistics, broadcasters, among other things that are involved,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport last week.