Zaka Ashraf, the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), called the hybrid model adopted for this year’s Asia Cup “injustice” and said he will strive to have it reviewed.
“The first point is that I have previously rejected the hybrid model [for Asia Cup] because I do not agree with it.” The board of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) agreed that the tournament should be conducted entirely in Pakistan. Major matches, however, are being hosted abroad, and only lesser teams such as Nepal will participate in Pakistan. “Injustice has been done to Pakistan,” Zaka, who is expected to return as PCB chairman, told reporters in Islamabad.
“As the hosts, the entire event [Asia Cup] should be held in Pakistan.”
While Zaka’s election to the top position in the PCB is expected because he was named to the PCB Board of Governors by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the election has yet to take place.
Zaka, 70, stated that he will try to make modifications to the Asia Cup, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 31 to September 17.
“I don’t know what decision the previous management made because I don’t have access to the information.” “I will go see and try to do what is best for Pakistan in the shortest amount of time,” he said.
“There are many pending issues, and I am not delving deeply into the matter because I have not officially taken over,” he added, saying that he was looking to communicate with Indian leadership.
While no official remarks were made by any BCCI or ACC officials in response to Zaka’s statements, it looks highly unlikely that further changes to the hybrid model will be implemented at this time.
According to the concept, four games will be held in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka, as agreed upon by the PCB Interim Management Committee lead by Najam Sethi.
Sethi proposed the hybrid format after the BCCI refused to send a team to Pakistan for the continental event, alleging lack of Indian government consent.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media alongside Zaka, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari stated that the PCB election commissioner would oversee the board’s operations till the new chairman is elected.
“We will make every effort to hold the elections before Eid-ul-Azha.” “It is clear that Zaka will be the new PCB chairman after the elections,” the IPC minister stated.
In response to a query, he stated that India was politicizing cricket by refusing to allow its team to travel to Pakistan.
“India should abandon its obstinacy and play cricket in Pakistan.” Personally, I believe that if India does not visit Pakistan, Pakistan should not visit India. If India chooses to play in a neutral venue, Pakistan should follow suit.”
According to Ehsan, the PCB Interim Management Committee’s tenure was terminated on the night of June 19, and any actions made after then have no legal standing.
