Zaka Ashraf, the likely new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has ruled out a "hybrid model" for the upcoming Asia Cup. The tournament is to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in September under the hybrid model of the current PCB chairman Najam Sethi. Zaka Ashraf said in a statement that he rejects it. In such a situation, PCB and BCCI have come into conflict. Now it is difficult for Pakistan to play in ODI World Cup. At the same time, the fate of organizing the Asia Cup also hangs in the balance.
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Zaka Ashraf said in a press conference on Wednesday, "The first point is that I have rejected the hybrid model (for the Asia Cup) earlier also - because I do not agree with it. The board of the Asian Cricket Council had decided that The tournament should be held in Pakistan, then we should host it."


After this statement Ashraf, Pakistan's participation in the World Cup may also hang in balance and it is expected that BCCI will also take a tough stand if they go back from the consensus reached with the members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), then there will be an intermediary. There will be no way.

With the ACC executive body having approved the hybrid model, if Ashraf does not change his stand, the Asia Cup could be held without Pakistan as a five-nation tournament. "The Asia Cup model has been accepted by the ACC and there will be no change in it. Ashraf is free to say whatever he wants," an ACC board member told PTI.

Ashraf is one of two candidates selected for the post of PCB chairman by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is the board's patron-in-chief and the final decision-maker in the appointment. As of now, Ashraf's appointment is just a formality. The hybrid model was accepted by the ACC, headed by BCCI boss Jay Shah after India made it clear that it would not play in Pakistan due to the current geopolitical situation.

It was decided that four matches of the Asia Cup would be held in Pakistan, with the host country playing its group league match against Nepal and three other matches involving Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan would also be held in Lahore.

However, Sethi took to Twitter to inform that he is stepping down as PCB chairman. Then things changed dramatically in the last 48 hours. Sethi tweeted, "I don't want to be a bone of contention between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. Such instability and uncertainty are not good for PCB. Under these circumstances, I am not a candidate for the post of PCB chairman. Best wishes to all stakeholders." "

Ashraf, a banker by profession, has previously been the PCB chairman. During an interaction with the media, Ashraf said that he does not like the idea of hosting an insignificant game in his country despite having the hosting rights. He said "All the main matches (of Pakistan) are being moved out. (Teams like Nepal and Bhutan) are going to play in Pakistan, which is not fair for Pakistan. I don't know what the board has decided earlier, It is not known." He said, "I will investigate, do whatever is possible in the least possible time, for the good of Pakistan."

Ashraf also said that the issue of the World Cup is yet to be resolved, which could mean that there will be further delays in releasing the schedule. "Pakistan has challenges, many pending issues, there is Asia Cup, then there is World Cup, there is team preparation, there are many issues. I don't want to speak against anyone, because I haven't done that yet," he said. ' “Once I take charge, I will see what the situation is. I always take the media with me, I don't hide anything. We have to work for the betterment of Pakistan, we clearly know that."

It is believed that Pakistan's demand to play World Cup matches at a neutral venue will not be accepted by the BCCI or the ICC at any cost and now Ashraf's tough stand on the Asia Cup may further worsen the ties. Significantly, the last time India and Pakistan had a bilateral series in 2012, Ashraf was the PCB chairman.

(pc amarujala)