ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Najam Sethi, has rejected any possibility of Pakistan giving up its right to host the upcoming Asia Cup.
Sethi said that losing the hosting rights would be a huge financial loss for the cricket board and that it was “not an option.”
The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in September this year, but following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, the future of the event hangs in the balance.
Sethi presented a hybrid model at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting last month, saying that if India didn’t want to play in Pakistan, the event would be hosted at a neutral venue.
Sethi said that Pakistan and India would play each other at least twice in the hybrid model and that this match generates more than half of the revenue.
He added that they had calculated the extra budget and presented it to the ACC. If India is willing to play in Pakistan, they are welcome, but if they want to play at a neutral venue, Pakistan is ready, he said.
No other option other than hosting Asia Cup: Najam Sethi
Sethi maintained that there was no option other than hosting this event; otherwise, Pakistan would not play. He said that the PCB had done all of the planning, including the schedule based on the hybrid model.
“We have prepared a schedule and already presented it in the ACC meeting. We have also made a plan for logistics. On our side, everything is final. We just need a green signal,” he said.
The Asia Cup deadlock continues as India is not willing to go to Pakistan due to political differences. Last year, former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja made bold statements after Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah said that India “can’t” send a team to Pakistan, adding the Asia Cup would be moved to a neutral venue.
His announcement caught Pakistan by surprise, with the then PCB chairman warning it could “split” the international cricket community.
Sethi, since taking charge in December last year, has been trying to sort out the Asia Cup matter. The Asian event (50-over format) is expected to be played in September this year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has made it clear that it will not give up its right to host the Asia Cup, even if it means playing in a neutral venue. The ball is now in India’s court to decide whether they want to participate in the tournament or not.
