To prepare for the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) began investigating backup plans for bilateral or triangular series including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and the West Indies.
The PCB is considering several options for this year’s Asia Cup, which is scheduled for September. Despite the BCCI’s request, the PCB is apparently unwilling to hold the entire Asia Cup at a neutral location.
The PCB is open to a hybrid format or having Pakistan host the competition instead. The PCB administration believes that conducting the competition outside of Pakistan would be detrimental to the country’s efforts to revive international cricket and could endanger the country’s chances of hosting the Champions Trophy in 2025.
If the Asia Cup is canceled or replaced by India’s proposed five-nation tournament, Pakistan would set up bilateral or triangular series to prepare for the ICC World Cup in India. The PCB has talked to foreign cricket boards, like those from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and the West Indies, about taking part in the Asia Cup window.
The PCB plans to replace the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka with a five-match ODI series to provide the team extra training opportunities before the World Cup. These proactive measures reflect the national team’s readiness for the upcoming big competition, as well as the PCB‘s resolve to keeping them participating in international cricket even if the Asia Cup is postponed.