Pakistan is expected to play their 2023 ODI World Cup matches in Bangladesh, as India will serve as the tournament’s host.
This concept was considered during a recent conference of the International Criminal Court (ICC) held in Dubai. India, on the other hand, will likely play its Asia Cup matches on a neutral venue, while Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament.
During recent ICC meetings in Dubai, the concept of holding Pakistan’s ODI World Cup matches and India’s Asia Cup matches on a neutral venue was discussed. Unfortunately, there has been no formal announcement regarding either of the two situations. At the meeting, the PCB also mentioned that if India did not travel to Pakistan this year, it could have repercussions for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is also expected to be staged in Pakistan.
Beginning on October 5, 2023, the ODI World Cup is slated to be played over eleven locations in India. Before the big event, the Pakistan Cricket Board made it clear that their participation will be contingent on India’s decision about the Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup will likely be staged in a mixed format, with India playing outside of Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced that India will not travel to Pakistan for this year’s continental competition. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) subsequently intimated that they would boycott the World Cup if they were stripped of their hosting rights. Interestingly, this year’s World Cup will be staged in October and November, while the Asia Cup will be played in September, just before to the mega-event.
In the meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has supported the hybrid format for the Asia Cup. The neutral venue where India would play its matches has not yet been determined. Importantly, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Sri Lanka, or England could be chosen as one of the venues.
The 2021 Asia Cup was postponed and contested in the UAE last year owing to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially, Pakistan was awarded the hosting rights, but because to political concerns with India, the rights were transferred to Sri Lanka. The 2018 Asia Cup was also hosted in the UAE since India was stripped of its hosting rights.
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