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New Delhi. Zaka Ashraf, the likely next chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has rejected Najam Sethi’s ‘hybrid model’ for the upcoming Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in September. An open challenge has been given from Pakistan that this tournament will be held in Pakistan only. He has spoken of taking action after assuming office.
Ashraf said in a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, “First of all, I have already rejected the hybrid model of Asia Cup because I do not agree with it. The board of the Asian Cricket Council had decided that if this tournament is held in Pakistan then it should be held here.
After this statement of Ashraf, Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup to be held in India at the end of this year has also come under threat. It is understood that the BCCI may also take a tough stand if Pakistan backs out after giving its consent. The executive board of ACC has approved the hybrid model. If Ashraf doesn’t change his stand then Asia Cup can be played without Pakistan.
A member of the ACC board said, “The Asia Cup model has been accepted by the ACC and there will be no change in it.” Ashraf is free to say whatever he wants.
Ashraf, a close aide of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is set to become the PCB chairman as the prime minister is also the chief patron of the board and appointments are made at his discretion. The hybrid model was accepted by the ACC headed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. India had clearly said that it will not go to play Pakistan. The situation changed in 48 hours as soon as Sethi stepped down from the post of president. Sethi had said that he did not want to become a reason for differences between Asif Zardari and Shahbaz Sharif and that is why he was withdrawing from the race for the post of president.
Ashraf said in the press conference that he does not want meaningless matches to be held in Pakistan. He said, “All the main matches will be out of Pakistan. Teams like Nepal and Bhutan will play in Pakistan which is wrong. I don’t know which one the board approved first. I see what can happen in such a short span of time. We will do what is best for Pakistan.
He also said that the issue of the World Cup is yet to be resolved which means that there will be further delay in releasing the schedule. He said, “There are challenges before Pakistan. There are many pending issues. There is the Asia Cup and then there is the World Cup. I do not want to speak against anyone because I have not yet taken up the post. Let’s see what is the situation after taking over the post.
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Tags: asia cup, India Vs Pakistan
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 22, 2023, 05:45 IST
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