Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi said there is no option to withdrew from the Asia Cup hosting rights.
After presenting a hybrid model to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting last month, the PCB head said there is no chance of losing hosting rights as it will have a huge financial loss for them.
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“It is simple, we worked out a plan to host Asia Cup on a hybrid model. If India don’t want to play in Pakistan, we will host them at a neutral venue,” he said while speaking in a private media channel sports programme.
“We presented the hybrid model in the ACC meeting. Pakistan and India will play each other at least twice. This match generates more than half of the revenue. We have calculated the extra budget and told ACC about it,” he added.
“If they [India] are agreed to play in Pakistan, they are welcome. If they want to play at a neutral venue, we are ready. There is no option other than hosting this event otherwise we will not play,” he maintained.
Najma Sethi revealed that, “If we don’t Play Asia Cup, we will face a loss of 3 Million Dollars. If we don’t Play world Cup it will worsen the relations with ICC.
“‘As far as finances are concerned, my personal opinion is that in the past, PCB was dependent on the money from ICC, so we had to agree to their terms. However, now PSL has made PCB financially independent. We get the same amount from PSL, which we receive from ICC. We have decided that we are ready to bear loss of $3 million in order to protect our honour and political stance”‘ Sethi said.
Sethi acknowledged that Pakistan fans do not want the Men in Green to play in India if lndia does not reciprocate by playing in Pakistan. “I know people don’t want us to go to India if India doesn’t come to Pakistan. People want us to stand our ground and not be dictated,”‘ he added.
Sethi also said that they have done all of the planning including the schedule based on the hybrid model. “We have prepared a schedule and already presented it in the ACC meeting. We have also made a plan for logistics. On our side, everything is final. We just need a green signal,” he asserted.
Remember that Asia Cup 2023 scheduled to Played in Pakistan and as usual India making lame excuses by saying that Indian Team will not Travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup due to security reasons.
Pakistan decided that Asia Cup will not be shifted to a neutral venue meanwhile Indian cricket board excuses itself to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup.
Keeping the whole situation in view Pakistan also refused to send its team and demands a neutral venue for World Cup 2023 which is scheduled to be played in India.
