KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is upset with Sri Lanka over the Sri Lankan board’s interest in hosting the entire Asia Cup and has rejected a proposal to play a bilateral series of one-day matches in Sri Lanka. Sources said Najam Sethi proposed a hybrid model whereby Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) proposed to host the entire Asia Cup instead of four matches in Pakistan, which has soured relations between the boards of the two countries.
- The PCB had initially said that it would consider the proposal but has now rejected the proposal
- Relations between the boards of the two countries soured when Sri Lanka Cricket proposed to host the entire Asia Cup.
Sources said that ‘an example of the sourness between the cricket boards of the two countries is that the PCB has refused to play a series of one-day matches in Sri Lanka next month.’ Pakistan is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka to play 2 Test matches in July this year as part of the next round of the ICC World Test Championship. Apparently, Sri Lanka also proposed to play the ODI series in front of the PCB.
Sources confirmed that the PCB had initially said it would consider the proposal but has now rejected the proposal. The PCB did not respond to Indian media reports that the BCCI and Jay Shah had rejected Sethi’s hybrid model proposal and wanted the Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka. But sources say that if the Indian board does not change its position on the Asia Cup, the PCB is now preparing to take some strong decisions regarding the Asia Cup and the World Cup.