UAE may host India's matches; PCB determined on hosting Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan

In a big development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may host India's matches during the 2023 Asia Cup. The PCB held a meeting on Thursday (February 16) to find a solution for hosting the mega tournament in Pakistan. 

Now, after the recent meeting at PCB headquarters, the PCB chief Najam Sethi, when asked about whether Pakistan will host the 2023 Asia Cup, said that there is still no resolution. "What can I say about what happened in the Asian Cricket Council board meeting? There was no resolution," Sethi told reporters on Thursday as quoted by News18.

But the recent reports that are circulating suggest that Pakistan are likely to host the tournament but India's all matches will be held in the UAE. In case the Indian team reaches the final then the venue for the final will be in the UAE too.

Last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), gave a statement that the Indian team will not be travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. His statement raised many questions and created further differences between the two cricket boards. 

However, the PCB is looking forward to hosting the tournament at any cost and is looking at all possible solutions. A few days ago, Jay Shah and PCB Chief Najam Sethi attended an emergency ACC meeting held in Bahrain to discuss the hosting issue. But the reports emerged that the officials failed to return with any solid situations. As per recent reports the decision on deciding a host nation is further delayed till March end. 

Few sources also reported that, during the same meeting, Sethi warned Shah that Pakistan would not participate in the 2023 World Cup scheduled in India if India skips the Asia Cup. In response, a senior BCCI official said that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament and it will be shifted to another country.