LAHORE: The incoming Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf, who had expressed his displeasure over the hybrid model being adopted for the Asia Cup, has clarified that since the decision has already been made, he will honour the commitment.
“In my personal opinion, this whole hybrid model isn’t beneficial for Pakistan and I didn’t like it,” Ashraf was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. “Being a host, Pakistan should have negotiated better to make sure that the entire tournament should have played in Pakistan. Sri Lanka taking the bigger lot of games, leaving Pakistan with only four games, isn’t in the best interest of our country.
However, Ashraf has now confirmed that he would not attempt to disrupt the existing agreement that has already been reached between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council.
“But I see the decision has been made, so we have to go with it. I will not block or have any intention not to comply with the decision. I cannot do much about it but to honour the commitment. But going forward, every decision we make will be made for and in the interest of the country,” he said.
The model will see four to five of the tournament’s 13 games being played in Pakistan. The rest of the matches will be held in Sri Lanka, including all the India vs Pakistan encounters as well as the tournament’s final if the Indian team goes through.
