‘Does it hurl fire or is it haunted?’ – Shahid Afridi slams PCB for not wanting to play ODI World Cup 2023 match in Ahmedabad
Shahid Afridi (Source: Twitter)
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal for a hybrid model for the Asia Cup is accepted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The ACC announced that Pakistan will host four games, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine games. It is unknown whether Pakistan will travel to India for the ODI World Cup in October-November, despite the fact that the ACC accepted PCB’s proposal. The PCB has said they won’t play at the Narendra Modi Stadium because India and Pakistan are said to be fighting in Ahmedabad during the World Cup.
Former Pakistan skipper, Shahid Afridi slammed the PCB in an interview recently, where he questioned the logic behind their denial of not playing at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. “Why are they declining to play on Ahmedabad pitches? Does it hurl fire or is it haunted? Go and play – go, play, and win. If these are the foreseen challenges, then the only way to overcome them is through a comprehensive victory,” Afridi was quoted as saying on Samaa TV.
The former all-rounder, who is now 46 years old, believes that PCB should take the matter seriously and should rather speak on the field by defeating India on their soil. “What matters at the end of the day is the Pakistan team’s win. The crux only and only lies in there. Take this rather positively. If they [India] are comfortable there, you should go, pull a victory in front of a packed Indian crowd and show them what you got,” he added.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup 2023
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are scheduled to host the Asia Cup in 2023 from August 31 to September 17. For the first time in the championship history, the tournament will be held on a hybrid model. The Asia Cup will feature Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. Nine games will be played in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan will host four matches.
“We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches,” the ACC was quoted as saying in a statement. The Super 4 four stages will follow the group stage, with the final taking place on September 17.
“The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka. The 2023 edition will feature two groups, with two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then face off in the final. We look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to witness this celebration of cricket at its finest,” the ACC added.
