India vs Pakistan: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally confirmed the venue for the blockbuster India vs Pakistan match which will be held in the Asia Cup 2023. The development came after the completion of a meeting between BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) new chief Zaka Ashraf in Durban.
In the last few months, there has been a lot of back and forth between the BCCI and the PCB. The two cricket boards have been at loggerheads regarding the issue of their respective team’s travel to the other involved nation.
Notably, Pakistan is set to host the Asia Cup 2023 while India has the onus of staging the World Cup 2023 in October-November. Meanwhile, India has shown reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 and in retaliation, Pakistan threatened that it would boycott the impending ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
In the meetings held between the BCCI and PCB officials to settle the issue, it was zeroed on that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held in the hybrid model, wherein some matches will be held in Pakistan and the remaining will be held outside. Although the proposed model was accepted by the former PCB chief Najam Sethi, the new PCB chairman, a few days ago, conveyed that he wants Pakistan to solely host the Asia Cup 2023.
He also mentioned that if India doesn’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, his team would also not participate in the World Cup 2023 in India and a hybrid model would be suggested for it as well.
However, in the recent meeting held in Durban, South Africa, it has been confirmed that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held in the hybrid model with Pakistan hosting four matches and the remaining will be held in Sri Lanka. The reports also confirmed the venue for the most anticipated India vs Pakistan match.
Sri Lanka to host India vs Pakistan
BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal confirmed the development on Wednesday as he revealed the Asia Cup 2023 Venue for India vs Pakistan game.
“Our secretary met PCB head Zaka Ashraf and the Asia Cup schedule was finalised and it is on course as it was discussed earlier. There will be four games of league stage in Pakistan, followed by 9 games in Sri Lanka including both India vs Pakistan games and in case a third game if both teams play final,” Arun Dhumal told PTI after the conclusion of the meeting in Durban.
The India vs Pakistan clash in the group stages of the Asia Cup 2023 will most likely be held in Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka.
It can be noted that India can possibly face Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup 2023. The first India vs Pakistan fixture will be held in the group stage of the tournament, the schedule for which is yet to be revealed. If India and Pakistan both proceed to the Super 4 stage, they can potentially clash there. And if the two sides manage to reach the final of the Asia Cup 2023, it will be their third encounter in just a single tournament.
Arun Dhumal, meanwhile, also put an end to the rumours afloat all across the internet by the Pakistani media regarding India’s travel to Pakistan in the coming months.
“There was no such discussion held. Neither India is travelling to Pakistan nor our secretary will be travelling contrary to reports that have surfaced. Only the schedule was finalised,” he said.
As per the reports, Pakistan’s only home game will be against Nepal. The other three fixtures in Pakistan will be – Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan.
For more details head to ICC’s official website.
