KARACHI
\nPakistan will not participate in this year\u2019s Asia Cup if it is deprived of the hosting rights of the tournament owing to India\u2019s concerns over touring the neighbouring country due to security issues.
\nThe Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting on Monday, Dawn understands, was not enough to break the deadlock between the body and the Pakistan Cricket Board over the matter, which has been hanging in balance since ACC president Jay Shah \u2014 who is also the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary \u2014 unilaterally annou\u00adnced last year that the Asia Cup will not be held in Pakistan citing India\u2019s inability to travel across the border in case of government\u2019s disapproval.
\nThe ACC, however, has gone back to the drawing board to chalk out a \u201chybrid model\u201d for the tournament, which is likely to see India playing their matches at another venue.
\nEven in such a case, it is understood that the PCB will ensure it gets maximum benefit as the rightful hosts of the Asia Cup with Pakistan getting to play all of their matches at home \u2014 excluding those against India \u2014 and the maximum number of matches being held in the country.
\nIf the hybrid model isn\u2019t satisfactory for the PCB, it may see Pakistan pull out of the Asia Cup.
\nA problem that may occur with India playing their matches at a neutral venue is that the availability of a suitable one may be difficult in September \u2014 the period earmarked for the tournament.
\nThe United Arab Emirates \u2014 regarded one of the most convenient venues for such situations \u2014 will be experiencing soaring temperatures during the said time of the year. Reportedly, Oman and Sri Lanka are being considered as other viable options while England, although ambitious, is also under consideration to host India\u2019s matches.
\nThe ACC is yet to make a final ann\u00adou\u00adncement over the Asia Cup\u2019s fate.
\nDawn understands that the PCB\u2019s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi has made the board\u2019s stance clear in front of the ACC officials. Moreover, it has emerged that Sethi is mulling over demanding a similar hybrid model for the ICC Cricket World Cup \u2013 for which Pakistan will be required to fly to India, with the country set to host the 50-over showpiece in October-November.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Pakistan will not participate in this year\u2019s Asia Cup if it is deprived of the hosting rights of the tournament owing to India\u2019s concerns over touring the neighbouring country due to security issues. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting on Monday, Dawn understands, was not enough to break the deadlock between the body and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":321632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-321613","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n