Zaka Ashraf, who is most likely to become the next Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has termed Asia Cup 2023’s hybrid model an ‘injustice’ to Pakistan.
During an interaction with mediapersons on Wednesday, Ashraf, who is the chairman-designate of the PCB, expressed to review the decision of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and holding the tournament completely in Pakistan.
“According to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan. But major matches are played elsewhere, and only minor teams like Nepal play in Pakistan. Injustice has been done to Pakistan,” Ashraf was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Former PCB chairman Ashraf, 70, is set to serve as the chairman of PCB after recently being nominated for the body’s Board of Governors (BoG) by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif but, the election is yet to take place.
Ashraf also said that he will try his best to make changes in the limited time available.
“I will try to do what is in the best interest of Pakistan within the shortest possible time. There are many pending issues, and I am not delving deep into the matter since I haven’t officially taken over,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ashraf is also mulling to engage with the Indian leadership. On the other hand, no official comments have been made by either the BCCI or the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) member regarding Ashraf’s statements and it is most unlikely that any further modifications will be made to the hybrid format of the continental tournament at this stage.
As per the hybrid model, four games of Asia Cup 2023 will be held in Pakistan while the remaining nine will be staged in Sri Lanka, something the PCB under the previous dispensation under Najam Sethi had agreed upon.