The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani has ruled out any chances of the proposed Asia Cup to be held this year in June. He however, feels that relations with India would improve when his country hosts the 2023 edition of the continental event.
“In 2022 Sri Lanka will have it (Asia Cup) and in 2023 Pakistan will be hosting the regional event. I am optimistic that by time the political relations between the two countries would have improved and this would pave the way for the Indian team to come to Pakistan,” Mani said.
“In recent days there has been some positive signs through backdoor channels and hopefully the ice will melt in the relations,” he was quoted as saying by ‘Jang’ newspaper in an interview on March 17.
Significantly, India had booked a place in the WTC Final where it will face New Zealand in Southhampton from June 18.
According to the Future Tours Programme (FTP), Asia Cup is also slated to held in June in Sri Lanka and non-participation of India in the tournament will come as a huge blow for the broadcasters, sponsors and other cricket boards.
Significantly, the WTC final, which was scheduled to be played from June 18, will clash with the scheduled Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.