Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan on collision course with India, new PCB chief Zaka Ashraf rejects ‘hybrid model’

Islamabad/New Delhi: Zaka Ashraf, the likely new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has rejected his predecessor Najam Sethi’s much-touted ‘hybrid model’ for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in September.

“The first point is that I had already rejected the hybrid model (for the Asia Cup) – 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 in Pakistan’s capital on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup 2023 could also hang in balance with Ashraf’s comments and it is expected that the BCCI will also take a tough stand and there will be no middle ground if the members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) back out from the consensus.

With the ACC executive body having approved the hybrid model, if Ashraf does not change his stance, the Asia Cup 2023 could be held without Pakistan as a five-nation tournament. “The Asia Cup model has been accepted by the ACC and there will be no change. “Ashraf is free to say whatever he wants to say,” an ACC board member told PTI news agency.

The new PCB chairman has ruled out the hybrid model. Asia Cup 2023 can be held as a 5-nation tournament without Pakistan if the PCB chairman does not change his stand. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/cuRQlaPll5– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 21 June 2023

Ashraf is one of the two candidates for the post of PCB chairman chosen by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is the board’s patron-in-chief and the person who has the final say in the appointment. As of now, Ashraf’s appointment is just a formality. The hybrid model was accepted by the ACC, which is chaired by BCCI boss Jay Shah, after India made it clear that it would not travel to Pakistan due to the current geopolitical situation.

It was decided that four games would be held in Pakistan, with the host nation playing its group league matches against Nepal and three other games involving Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan would also be scheduled in Lahore. However, things changed dramatically in the last 48 hours after Sethi announced his decision to quit on Twitter.

I don’t want to be the cause of controversy between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. Such instability and uncertainty is not good for PCB. Under these circumstances, I am not a candidate for the post of PCB chairman. Best wishes to all the stakeholders,” Sethi had tweeted.

Ashraf, a banker by profession, has previously been the PCB chairman. During a media interaction, Ashraf said that he does not like the idea of ​​hosting unimportant games in his country when he has got the hosting rights.

“All the main matches are happening outside (Pakistan). (Teams like) Nepal and Bhutan are going to play in Pakistan – which is not fair to Pakistan. I don’t know what the board has decided earlier, I don’t have access to the information. I will investigate, do whatever is possible in the least possible time, for the good of Pakistan.”

Ashraf also said that the issue of the World Cup is yet to be resolved which could mean further delay in releasing the schedule. “There are challenges ahead for Pakistan, there are many pending issues, there is Asia Cup, then there is World Cup, there is team preparation, there are many issues,” he said. I do not want to speak against anyone as I have not (yet) taken charge.

“Once I take over, I will see what is the scenario. I always take the media with me, I don’t hide anything. We have to work for the betterment of Pakistan, we have a clear conscience.

It is understood that Pakistan’s demand to play the World Cup match at a neutral venue will not be accepted by either the BCCI or the ICC at any cost and now Ashraf’s tough stance on the Asia Cup may further worsen the ties. It may be noted that the last time India and Pakistan engaged in a bilateral series was in 2012, when Ashraf was the PCB chairman.