The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, announced on Thursday that a decision regarding the future course of the Asia Cup 2023 would be taken during the IPL final scheduled for May 28. Shah also mentioned that the heads of the cricket boards from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka would attend the title clash.
Shah stated, "The respective presidents of the Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka Cricket Boards will grace the IPL 2023 final to be held on May 28 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. We will hold discussions with them for outlining the future course of action concerning Asia Cup 2023." Shah, who serves as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), expressed the importance of the meeting.
The hosting and organization of the 2023 Asia Cup have been subjects of speculation over the past few months. Reports have suggested that a hybrid model of staging matches has been proposed, an idea also supported by Najam Sethi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The ongoing deadlock over hosting and organizing the tournament arises from the political tensions between India and Pakistan, with Pakistan slated to host the 2023 edition of the competition and India refraining from traveling to the country.
The Asia Cup features India, Pakistan, and Nepal in one group, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan comprise the other group. The tournament will be played in the 50-over format as preparation for the ODI World Cup scheduled for October-November.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, and from there, the top two teams will compete in the final. The decision made during the IPL final will be crucial in determining the future of the Asia Cup 2023 and resolving the hosting dilemma faced by the cricketing nations involved.