Karachi, July 15: The Pakistan Cricket Board will support Sri Lanka in its bid to host the Asia Cup from August 27 despite civil and political unrest in the island nation.
Sri Lanka have managed to successfully host Australian cricket team without any security breach despite civil unrest after former president Gotabaya Rajapakse fled the country in the midst of acute financial crisis.
A PCB source said that chairman Ramiz Raja had spoken to top SLC officials and assured them that Pakistan will push for the Asia Cup to remain in Sri Lanka as scheduled from August 27 to September 11.
The source also said that the PCB had also assured the Sri Lankan cricket authorities that the Pakistan team will play its Test matches in Galle and Colombo despite the ongoing unrest in the country.
He informed that although no official Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting is scheduled in the coming days, all the members being present during upcoming ICC Board meeting in Birmingham from August 22, will give them a chance to discuss a range of issues including hosting rights for the next Asia Cup in Pakistan.
“Since all the ACC members will be present, there will be discussions on the sidelines and Pakistan is clear that Sri Lanka must host the Asia Cup unless their board decides otherwise,” the source added “Pakistan’s point of view is clear that it has a long standing relationship with Sri Lankan cricket and both have always supported each other in times of need.”
Raja to protest against
bigger IPL window
It is a well documented fact that Raja, a former Pakistan captain is against BCCI’s move to have a dedicated two and half month IPL window in the next FTP calender starting 2023.
With Pakistani players not allowed in the IPL since Mumbai terror attacks, Raja feels that there is no reason that he can support BCCI’s move.
“Pakistan’s stance is clear. Since its players are not allowed to play in the IPL nor does BCCI have bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan, what is it going to gain from supporting an extended IPL window,” the source questioned.
A country’s cricket board gets 10 percent of its player’s earnings if he gets a chance to play in the IPL.
“If BCCI pushes for an extended IPL window, Ramiz will insist that one country should not be isolated and made to suffer while other boards get benefits from it.” (PTI)
