Zaka Ashraf Confirms Pakistan Will Not Pull Out Of Asia Cup 2023 Despite Being Unhappy With Hybrid Model

new likely pcb chief zaka ashraf confirms pakistan will not pull out of asia cup 2023 despite being unhappy with hybrid model

The controversy surrounding the Asia Cup 2023 refuses to die. After Pakistan were named hosts of the continental tournament, Jay Shah, BCCI secretary, and ACC chief, said that India would not travel to the country because of security reasons. After much deliberation and tussle with the BCCI and ACC by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it was finally decided that the tournament will be played in a hybrid format. While 5 matches will be played in Pakistan, 9 matches would be played in Sri Lanka. However, there were reports that new PCB chief Zaka Ashraf was not happy with this arrangement made by his predecessor Najam Sethi, and could pull out of the continental tournament entirely.

Fortunately, this will not be the case, as Ashraf has stated that Pakistan will honour the commitment of playing in the Asia Cup 2023, despite his unhappiness with the hybrid model. He was of the opinion that being a host, the former PCB chief should have negotiated better.

“In my personal opinion, this whole hybrid model isn’t beneficial for Pakistan and I didn’t like it. Being a host, Pakistan should have negotiated better to make sure that the entire tournament should have played in Pakistan. Sri Lanka taking the bigger lot of games, leaving Pakistan with only four games, isn’t in the best interest of our country,” the new PCB chief said in an interaction with ESPN Cricinfo.

“But I see the decision has been made, so we have to go with it. I will not block or have any intention not to comply with the decision. I cannot do much about it but to honour the commitment. But going forward, every decision we make will be made for and in the interest of the country,” Zaka Ashraf added.

The Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to begin on August 31 with the final being held on September 17. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan will be the top teams to participate, with Nepal qualifying for the first time in the continental tournament.