While the World Test Championship final is on at The Oval, administrators from across Asia are also in London to work on the fate of the Asia Cup. And a very senior source close to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed that they were very close to a resolution. And interestingly, it would likely be announced by both India and Pakistan on the same day.
So what could be the solution to the impasse? From what we understand, the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could well be adopted with a tweak. The ACC is determined to reduce travel for the teams, and also not play in the UAE because of the September heat. “Playing T20 cricket in Dubai in September, and playing 50-over cricket are two very different propositions,” said the source. “It will be impossible for the players. This narrows down the options.”
What the ACC is working on is possibly one venue in Sri Lanka. It would not be on the coast, where rain is likely at that time of year, but in the hills where the weather should allow for the matches to be played without interruption. Going by that logic, it could well be the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on the outskirts of Kandy where the bulk of the Asia Cup matches are played.
But what about the few matches in Pakistan? “They are very close to a resolution,” said the source. “The current chair of the ACC is Indian, and the lead has to come from him. Between Jay Shah and Pankaj Khimji (of Oman), they will take a call and it’s done. You can’t not take everyone with you. That’s how an organisation works. This issue has been blown out of proportion.
“It would seem the hybrid model is the most logical solution to this, and playing most of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka without making the players travel much is the best option.”
The announcement could well come within a week, and if the Asia Cup issue is resolved amicably, it could mean that the storm clouds over Pakistan’s World Cup participation are also blown away.