Asia Cup: India’s conditional consent to PCB’s hybrid model
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has given its conditional consent to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s hybrid model for the Asia Cup.
Under the hybrid model (UrduLight.com) India will play its matches at neutral venues while Pakistan will play its matches at its home grounds.
However, the BCCI has sought a written assurance from the Pakistan Cricket Board to participate in the ICC ODI World Cup in India.
According to The Indian Express, if all goes according to plan, the proposal will be accepted at the BCCI’s special general meeting in Ahmedabad on May 27.
Other countries Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka have already given green signal for this proposal and now BCCI has no reason to oppose this model.
Pakistan has offered two options in the hybrid model. It was earlier suggested that India would play its matches at a neutral venue while the remaining matches of the tournament would be played in Pakistan.
Another option is that the 50-over tournament will be played in two phases, whereby in the first phase, all teams except India will have to play at least one match in Pakistan.
In the second leg, the remainder of the tournament is to be played in the United Arab Emirates, with India participating there.
PCB has named Dubai as the preferred neutral location in the hybrid model. The board will also get its share of the ‘gate money’ if Dubai hosts the second leg of the Asia Cup. However, if the neutral venue is other than UAE, PCB will have to bear the loss.
The latest situation is that many teams are against playing in UAE due to extreme heat, so Sri Lanka can host the remaining matches. The final of the event will also be played at a neutral venue.
