The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will retain the hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup, however, the matches involving India, including the final, may be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Last year, the Indian cricket board secretary and Asian Cricket Council President, Jay Shah, announced that India would not travel to Pakistan for the tournament and demanded a change of venue. The then PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja, responded by saying that if India did not participate, Pakistan would not participate in the 2023 ICC World Cup in India.
Recently, the current PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, addressed the matter in a press conference in Lahore and stated that he would present Pakistan’s stance in an emergency ACC meeting held in Bahrain on Saturday.
According to sources, Shah made it clear that the Indian government would not allow the Indian team to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. Sethi countered by pointing out that other international teams have recently traveled to Pakistan and received excellent security, and that India would receive the same level of security.
The option of hosting the tournament in the UAE was also discussed in the meeting, along with the possibility of hosting the Indian matches only in the UAE, with other teams playing their matches in Pakistan.
In case India qualifies for the final, it would also be shifted to Dubai. This option, however, would increase expenses. Sethi also told Shah that if India refuses to play in Pakistan, Pakistan will not play in India.
The final decision on the venue will be made in March during the ICC and ACC Executive Board meetings, as the issues regarding the 2023 Asia Cup (Pakistan), 2023 World Cup (India), and 2025 Champions Trophy (Pakistan) are related.
