Asia Cup 2023: PCB's 'Hybrid Model' to come into play, tournament to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is set to adopt Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) 'Hybrid Model' proposal for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. Along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka will be serving as the neutral site where India's games would be played. 

The model predicts that Pakistan will host four, and maybe five games the tournament's 13 games and all of the India-Pakistan games will also take place in Sri Lanka. If India reaches the final, then the title match will also be held in Sri Lanka.

Currently, the tentative date for the competition to take place is between September 1 and September 17. The games for the Pakistan leg are most likely to take place in Lahore.

What is the 'Hybrid Model'?

Due to India and Pakistan's resistance to visiting each other's countries, the hybrid model was put out as a remedy. Pakistan chose this arrangement in order to keep the hosting rights after India declined to tour the country.

Pakistan initially proposed the UAE as a backup location, but Bangladesh objected as in September the region suffers from extreme weather.

Asia Cup 2023:

In the six-nation Asia Cup, which will be played in the 50-over format as part of World Cup preparation, Nepal and India have been placed in the same group along with Pakistan. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are in the other group.

Over the course of 13 days, 13 matches, including the final match of the tournament, are anticipated. The top two teams from each group are anticipated to move on to a Super 4s round, just like the 2022 version, before the top two teams from that round compete in the final. If India and Pakistan advance to the final game, they may face each other three times.