Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have refused to play in the United Arab Emirates due to the excessive heat in September. This means that the future of the Asia Cup 2023 looks bleak. Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup 2023, but the BCCI has refused to send its players to the neighbouring country due to security reasons.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed a revised hybrid model which suggests that the continental championship will be hosted by both UAE and Pakistan. However, BCB and SLC have shown their disagreement on this matter. Sri Lanka initially emerged as a potential alternative destination for Asia Cup 2023, but PCB seems reluctant to back away from competing in the tournament if the proposals are not met.
PCB chief Najam Sethi has argued that several tournaments in the past have taken place in September. In his meeting with the BCB and SLC officials, Sethi told them that the 50-over Asia Cup in 2018 was held in the UAE from September 15 to 28, for which BCCI was the host. He also said that the 2022 Asia Cup in T20 format was held from August 27 to September 11, for which SLC were the hosts, before stating that IPL 2020 was also held from September to November.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of Asian Cricket Council, has not said anything on this matter regarding the venue of Asia Cup 2023.
