Former PCB chairman Details Asia Cup Boycott Threat Amidstโฃ Scheduling Disputes
Lahore,โค Pakistan – September 20, 2023 – โNajam โคSethi, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has revealed the extent of โคPakistan’s frustration โwith the scheduling of โขthe 2023 Asia Cup, disclosing a willingness to boycott the โtournament and openly โฃcriticizing both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)โฃ and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sethi’s statements, made public recently, offer a rare inside look at the high-stakes negotiations and simmering tensions surrounding the continental competition.
The โdispute centered on the ACC’s decision to relocate the Asia Cup matches โคfrom Pakistan to Sri lanka, despite Pakistan being the designatedโฃ host. This โขmove,prompted by concerns over logistical challenges and the willingness of participating teams to travel to Pakistan,sparked outrage within theโ PCB and led to โa point where a complete withdrawal from the โtournament was seriously considered. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical factorsโข and power dynamics influencing international cricket governance, and raises questions about the fairness โคofโค tournament allocation and schedulingโ processes.
Sethi recounted a heated exchange during aโ meeting with โACC officials, stating, “I told them, ‘Let the Asia Cup goโค toโ hell, let the โขICC go to hell.’ I was so frustrated.” He explained that the PCB felt it had been unfairlyโ treated, particularly after making โconcessions regarding the hybrid model proposed for theโ tournament – a compromise where Pakistan woudl host โsome matches and sri Lanka the โฃremainder.
According โขto Sethi, โthe PCB’s primary โคconcern was preserving pakistan’s hosting rights,โข a matter ofโ national โpride and financial benefit. He alleged thatโฃ the ACC, heavily influenced by the Board of controlโ for Cricket in India (BCCI), disregarded Pakistan’s position and prioritized theโ convenience of other โparticipating โnations. “They didn’t care aboutโ ourโ concerns,” Sethi claimed. “They just wanted to appease India.”
The threat of a boycott was ultimately averted after intense โnegotiations โand the acceptance of the hybrid model, allowing Pakistan to host four matches of โthe tournament.However, Sethi’s revelations highlight the deep-seated โanimosity andโค mistrust that exists withinโ the Asian cricket community, and suggest that similar โคdisputes could arise in the future. โThe incident also casts a shadow over the ACC’s decision-making processes โand โitsโค ability to act โimpartially in the face of competing interests.