After the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) successfully persuaded most Asian nations to accept their hybrid model idea for the Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also willing to accept the suggestion.
However, before the impasse is broken, the BCCI has conditioned its acceptance with the PCB-suggested model on a formal assurance from Pakistan on their World Cup tour to India in October of this year.
While the BCCI is expected to modify its stance on the issue, a formal decision will not be made until after its Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 27.
The Indian cricket board has remained steadfast in its desire to shift the entire Asian competition out of Pakistan, asking that matches be played at a neutral venue. However, following Pakistan’s threat to boycott the World Cup, the Indian board has reversed its position.
Meanwhile, after Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh agreed to PCB’s hybrid model proposal, India has caved in, albeit conditionally.
During their SGM meeting in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, the board is expected to endorse Pakistan’s proposal.
PCB Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi had previously stated that if Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council chief, and BCCI secretary, refused to endorse Pakistan’s position as a partial host, Pakistan will not participate in the World Cup, which will be held in India.
“The problem is that India has refused to come.” We had to pull out of the Asia Cup. What exactly do you want us to do? I’ll have floated the identical formula to the ICC by then. The ICC, in my opinion, is not as staunchly opposed to the hybrid approach. “They’re waiting to see how it goes in the Asia Cup,” Sethi said, adding that while he couldn’t say much more, the situation remained factual.
