PCB unhappy with Sri Lanka Cricket, refusing to play ODI series after SLC’s offer to host Asia Cup 2023: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly refused to play an ODI series in Sri Lanka in July in response to Sri Lanka Cricket’s offer to host all the Asia Cup matches. According to a report in the Press Trust of India, the PCB is upset that Sri Lanka has decided to take the side of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in the matter of the Asia Cup venue. In case you are not aware, PCB was awarded the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2023. However, last year BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council, had said that India would not travel to Pakistan to play Asia. The cup and neutral venue will be decided at a later date. Since then, the statement irked the PCB, which issued a quick reply that if India did not come to Pakistan, they would also not come for the ODI World Cup later this year.

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Sri Lankan cricket spoiling Pakistan’s party?

The PCB is trying to pursue their case and ensure that at least some of the Asia Cup matches are held in Pakistan but no final decision has been taken on the matter yet. Together Sri Lanka reportedly offers to host Asia CupThe PCB seems to have become even more upset.

A source close to the PCB said that the board is unhappy with SLC coming forward and showing interest in hosting the Asia Cup even though they already know that it is Pakistan’s turn to host the mega event.

A PTI report quoted a PCB source as saying, “An example of the increasingly strained relations between the two boards came to the fore after the PCB turned down Pakistan’s offer to play some One Day Internationals in Sri Lanka next month. ” , “It is a clear indication that the PCB is not happy with the Sri Lankan board’s offer to host the Asia Cup in September when it is Pakistan’s turn to host a regional event at home,” the source said.

Sri Lanka is to host two Tests in July vs Pakistan. The Sri Lankan board had also requested the PCB to play some ODIs as it is a World Cup year and the island nation is confident of qualifying for the main event through the qualifiers. However, the PCB has refused to heed the request.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi disappointed with SLC

PCB boss Najam Sethi is reportedly very disappointed with Sri Lanka over the new development. He is also upset that several presidents of the board went to Ahmedabad to attend the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) and met Shah. Sethi hoped that Sri Lanka, with whom Pakistan has long-standing friendly relations, Bangladesh and Afghanistan would persuade the Indian Cricket Board and other Asian Cricket Council board members to go along with the proposal put forward by Sethi and hold at least three matches in Pakistan. Will agree to play four matches in the Asia Cup before shifting the tournament elsewhere. He is disappointed with the way things have happened in the recent past, especially when some of these board chiefs went to India for the IPL final and Had met BCCI secretary Jai Shah.