In the midst of the uncertainty surrounding the venue of the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi has given an intriguing recommendation. According to Sethi, the Asia Cup 2023 should be staged in the United Kingdom. He also stated that as the host, Pakistan has the option of deciding where the event will be held.
“England could be a possibility as a venue for the Asia Cup,” he said in a conversation on Sports Hour. The PCB Chairman has been trolled brutally on the internet for wanting to take the Asia Cup out of the continent.
In the meantime, the PCB has made three proposals to retain the rights to host the ODI Asia Cup. The Indian Cricket Board secretary, though, is playing hardball. As head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), he has a lot of say in the subject, and a judgement in favour of Pakistan is doubtful.
Last year, Shah announced that the Indian senior men’s team will not travel to Pakistan because of security concerns and that the multi-nation competition would be held at a neutral venue. The PCB was not amused by Shah’s remarks, and Sethi has repeatedly stated that Pakistan will not travel to India for the World Cup later this year if the men in blue do not visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023.
It’s their matches that bring 80 per cent of the broadcast rights: Najam Sethi
Previously, in a recent interview with the news agency PTI, Sethi stated that if India visits Pakistan, the national team will have no problem playing in any Indian city. The ACC, chaired by Jay Shah, recently rejected the ‘hybrid model,’ which Sethi believes is the only viable answer till India and Pakistan begin playing each other in their own countries.
“The two most important members who bring revenue to ACC are India and Pakistan. It’s their matches that bring 80 per cent of the broadcast rights. If Pakistan doesn’t play Asia Cup, then the broadcaster, that is Star, is going to have problems,” Sethi told PTI.
Here is how Twitter reacted
Then why it is Asia cup
Why not eurosia cup— boon (@Akshay254749832) May 13, 2023
Asia cup out of Asia?? ?
— theAnkIT ? (@AnkitVerma1131) May 13, 2023
Scrap asia cup and host 5 team series with sena + India
— Dere (@Der1x_) May 13, 2023
Can Asia Cup be played in Nepal ?
Being a participant country , favourable climate , no security issue ?— Ajay Shrestha (@AzayCrsta) May 13, 2023
First PAK will host only Asia cup, no matter what
On another day, Pak can host India's match in UAE
Another random day, Pak wont come INDIA for WC if INDIA is not coming to Pak for ASIA CUP
Now, ENGLAND can be a venue
?— Priya ?? (@priya_jajoo) May 13, 2023
Even though I am Indian, I want to be very honest and it's better to conduct in England than India (because Everyone knows and it's a fact that England cricket grounds are beautiful and Big ?)
They wont have patchy outfields like Indian grounds?@C4CRICVENKATESH— Ciripireddy ganesh (@Ciripireddygan2) May 13, 2023
PCB chairman thinking he is the chairman of ICC but in reality few packets of Ashirwad Ata maida , then you can own him pic.twitter.com/Ns5tFJt9RM
— CMA Monesh (@Cmamonesh) May 13, 2023
World cup asia mein h aur Asia cup pace friendly track pe???
— Kohlified. (@123perthclassic) May 13, 2023
This man making every effort to organise Asia cup
— FitCricPol (@cri_fit) May 13, 2023
Ye PCB ka doggy aise hi bhonki ja raha bai. Jisne puchna hai is se
— Ishaan Meet (@ishaanmeet) May 13, 2023
