England could be a possibility as a venue for the Asia Cup: Najam Sethi

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are at odds regarding the venue of the 2023 Asia Cup. ACC chief and BCCI secretary Jay Shah earlier said that Team India won’t travel to Pakistan due to security concerns, adding that the continental event would be played at a neutral venue.

However, PCB was not pleased with Shah’s suggestion as chairman Najam Sethi indicated that Pakistan might not travel to India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup if India do not travel to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, PCB recently proposed a hybrid model for hosting the multi-nation event during an ACC meeting, with India to play their matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Notably, PCB’s proposal was rejected by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Sethi has come up with another interesting suggestion for the venue in the midst of the heated discussion. While speaking with Sports Hour, the PCB chief claimed that as Pakistan is the host, they have the right to choose where the tournament will take place, suggesting that the tournament might take place in the United Kingdom.

“England could be a possibility as a venue for the Asia Cup,” Sethi told Sports Hour.

The tussle between both the Asian cricketing boards is not unknown to anyone. BCCI has been maintaining a firm stance on not travelling to Pakistan for the continental cup and that has escalated matters between both cricketing governing bodies.

Pakistan relying on matches at home for ODI World Cup preparations

Pakistan have already hosted New Zealand twice in 2023 thus far. While The Green Brigade lost to the Blackcaps in the three-match ODI series that was played in January, the Babar Azam-led side came back strongly and defeated the Tom Latham-led side 4-1 in a five-match ODI series that was played recently in Pakistan. The five-match T20I series ended on level terms 2-2.