<p>When the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) board meets in Dubai on Sunday, July 16, the PCB will work to have more Asia Cup matches held in Pakistan.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-78340″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-pcb-now-wants-pakistan-to-host-more-than-four-asia-cup-games-1689418950-asia-cup-750×500.jpg” alt=”” width=”1649″ height=”1099″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-pcb-now-wants-pakistan-to-host-more-than-four-asia-cup-games-1689418950-asia-cup-750×500.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-pcb-now-wants-pakistan-to-host-more-than-four-asia-cup-games-1689418950-asia-cup-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-pcb-now-wants-pakistan-to-host-more-than-four-asia-cup-games-1689418950-asia-cup-150×100.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-pcb-now-wants-pakistan-to-host-more-than-four-asia-cup-games-1689418950-asia-cup.jpg 900w” sizes=”(max-width: 1649px) 100vw, 1649px” /></p>
<p>The ACC said last month that four matches would be hosted in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka with the tournament to be conducted from August 31 to September 17. This follows the adoption of the hybrid format by all stakeholders, including the PCB and BCCI.</p>
<p>The hybrid concept was suggested since BCCI made it plain that it would not send a team to Pakistan because of the bad ties between the two nations.</p>
<p>The ACC member board officials who were present in Durban for the ICC meetings earlier this week, however, have heard from new PCB cricket committee chairman Zaka Ashraf, who was not in charge when the Asia Cup dates were set.</p>
<p>Although the tournament’s complete match schedule has not yet been made public, it is doubtful that Pakistan will play in any further games.</p>
<p>“Pakistan will take the position at the ACC meeting that Pakistan should be allowed to host more than four games at home,” said a PCB source. Sri Lanka is scheduled to host nine games of the Asia Cup.</p>
<p>The Asia Cup schedule is being finalized during the ACC conference. The ACC members, including India, endorsed the hybrid approach that Najam Sethi, the PCB’s disbanded cricket management committee chairman, had recommended.</p>
<p>The two India-Pakistan matches in the competition are expected to take place at Dambulla, according to indications.</p>
<p>According to the source, Zaka Ashraf wants more games so that they may play in sites other than simply Lahore, like Multan.</p>
<p>The organizers have stated their wish to start the tournament with a Pakistan vs. Nepal game in Multan, where they anticipate a larger audience than in Lahore, he said.</p>
<p>They think that by choosing Multan Stadium, which is smaller than Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, the atmosphere for the first game would be more lively.</p>
<p>Officials in Pakistan are optimistic that they would have additional opportunities to host games. The participating nations for the continental tournament are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal.</p>
<p>Two groups will be present in the 2023 edition, and two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage. The final will then include the top two teams from the Super Four stage.</p>