A protracted-term media rights deal between the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the broadcaster may be in jeopardy if an answer shouldn’t be discovered to finish the issue of the logjam relating to the internet hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2023. If the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan doesn’t happen then the broadcaster may incur heavy losses.
The Asia Cup was scheduled in September this 12 months however Jay Shah, who can be the ACC chairman, introduced in October 2022 that India is not going to journey to Pakistan. In the primary formal assembly between BCCI secretary Shah and PCB chairman Najam Sethi held in Bahrain on February 4, the dialogue relating to the venue of Asia Cup 2023 came about however the remaining resolution was withheld.
According to a supply, beneath the long-term settlement between the ACC and the broadcaster, Pakistan and India ought to mandatorily play one another not less than twice, or thrice, in the regional multi-team occasion.
“It is not possible to have the Asia Cup without Pakistan and India matches. This is the understanding on which the agreement is based,” the supply mentioned.
“Without Pakistan and India matches, the broadcasting agreement goes awry,” he warned.
The supply added that over the last ACC govt board assembly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Najam Sethi, had made it clear that Pakistan desires to host the match, and they had been prepared to give all safety ensures to the collaborating groups, together with India.
Sources conscious of the developments mentioned the most definitely resolution to the issue seems to be that Pakistan will stay the host of the Asia Cup however some matches may also be held in the UAE the place India might play all its video games, together with the ultimate if vital.
“Sethi has not said that the PCB could consider being hosts and split the matches between venues in Pakistan and UAE to allow India to play in UAE,” the supply mentioned.
“This is not an option right now for Pakistan unless something changes at the next ACC board meeting on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in March,” the supply added.
In the worst-case state of affairs, if India doesn’t journey to Pakistan, the PCB may take into account the choice of not taking part in in the Asia Cup or not touring to India for the ODI World Cup later this 12 months.
A PCB official mentioned there’s a power de majeure clause in the Asia Cup collaborating nations settlement, which permits for the shifting of the match, however that’s depending on the host nation.
“In 2018, India moved the Asia Cup to the UAE because of elections in their country (and) not because Pakistan said it wouldn’t go to India for the event. So what happened in 2018 does not apply in the present scenario,” the supply mentioned.
(Inputs from PTI)
