ACC may accept PCB’s ‘hybrid model’ for Asia Cup, Pakistan team set to travel to India for WC

The Asian Cricket Council, headed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is expected to approve PCB’s proposed ‘hybrid model’ for conducting four non-India Asia Cup games in Pakistan while the rest of the matches will be played in Sri Lanka’s Galle and Pallekele. The ACC is likely to make a formal announcement on Tuesday and once the hybrid model is officially accepted, decks will be cleared for Pakistan team’s travel to India for the ODI World Cup scheduled in October-November.

Now, Pakistan will have no problems playing in Ahmedabad.

“Oman Cricket board chief Pankaj Khimji, one of the respected ACC executive board members, was entrusted to find a solution as most countries didn’t want a hybrid model.

“But as of now four non-India games — Pakistan vs Nepal, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh — will be held at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.

“The two India vs Pakistan games and all other Super Four Games will be held in either Pallekele or Galle,” an ACC board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The Asia Cup is expected to be held in September. It is understood that once ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and chairman Greg Barclay visited Karachi to meet PCB chairman Najam Sethi, it was decided that Pakistan won’t set any conditions to come for the World Cup, provided four Asia Cup games are held in the country as they have the hosting rights. Playing a tournament without Pakistan would have meant that the broadcasters would be giving half the amount committed for the tournament because of two assured Indo-Pak games and may be a chance of a third, if the two teams reach the final.

The solution looked the most feasible one as this now will lead to Pakistan travelling to India without setting any pre-conditions with the much-awaited schedule for the ODI World Cup to be released early next week.

India will probably play Pakistan in Ahmedabad in the World Cup. Pakistan’s remaining matches could be held in Chennai and Hyderabad.