If Ashraf had put a roadblock in front of the Pakistan Cricket Board without full knowledge of the incident, they might have been subject to punishment.
After receiving formal approval from the Asian Cricket Council and less than 24 hours after publicly “rejecting” the “Hybrid Model” for the Asia Cup, Zaka Ashraf, the incoming chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, made a complete about-face and agreed to accept the four matches given to the original hosts.
As a result of the hybrid hosting model, which Pakistan and Sri Lanka will use to co-host the Asia Cup, India will compete in all of their matches, including two against their traditional rivals on the island.
Zaka Ashraf is dissatisfied with the hybrid Asia Cup model but promises to “honor the commitment.”
The model was put forth by Ashraf’s predecessor and nemesis Najam Sethi. The banker who will take over the helm of PCB on June 27 “rejected” the idea during a press conference.
According to information obtained, Ashraf was unaware that PCB President Sethi had already signed the “Hybrid Model.”
It was approved by the all-knowing ACC Executive Board. This is presided over by BCCI Chief Executive Jay Shah, and cannot be changed.
If Ashraf had put up a roadblock without having all the information, the Pakistan Cricket Board might have been subject to punishment.
“According to me, and I didn’t like it, this whole hybrid model isn’t good for Pakistan”, Ashraf was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
“As the host nation, Pakistan ought to have done a better job of negotiating to have the entire tournament held in Pakistan.”
“It isn’t in the best interest of our country for Sri Lanka to take the bigger number of games, leaving Pakistan with only four games”, he continued.
Then Ashraf acknowledged that he didn’t know all the details and abruptly changed his story.
“However, I see that the choice has already been made, so we must accept it. I have no desire to obstruct the decision or to disobey it.”
“I have no choice but to keep my end of the bargain. But moving forward, every choice we make will be made with the nation’s best interests in mind.”
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