Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani is optimistic about hosting India in the Asia Cup in 2023 and hopes the political relations between the two neighbouring countries would improve by then.
Mani informed that Sri Lanka would host the Asia Cup in 2022, ruling out any chances of the continental event being staged this year in June.
"In 2022, Sri Lanka will have it (Asia Cup) and in 2023, Pakistan will be hosting the regional event," Mani said. "I am optimistic that by that time, the political relations between the two countries would have improved and this would pave the way for the Indian team to come to Pakistan."
"In recent days, there have been some positive signs through backdoor channels and hopefully, the ice will melt in the relations," he told the Jang newspaper in an interview on Wednesday.
Mani said that if the Indian team visited its neighbours, it would be a "big breakthrough" for Pakistan cricket.
Mani further said that the Asia Cup 2021 was unlikely to be held as Pakistan did not have the time for it due to pending PSL 6 matches and India would also be busy with the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
"There is no question of the Asia Cup being held this year as we are very busy and don't have time to spare this year," Mani said. "There was a small window in June in which we are going to play the rest of the Pakistan Super League matches."
"The Indian team will play the final of the Test Championship against New Zealand. They have to go to England two weeks before and stay in quarantine, so the Indian team is also busy," he added.
Mani said that he hadn't officially received any information on the reports that India would send a 'B team' for the Asia Cup. "We have also heard about the Indian board wanting to send a B team to the Asia Cup but no one has spoken about it to us."
Mani said the revenue earned from the Asia Cup would be spent on promoting cricket in associate countries.
He said the Asian Cricket Council was guaranteed a proper income from the tournament only if all the teams take part in the regional competition.
Mani also disclosed that the ICC had assured the PCB about Pakistan's participation in the World T20 this year in India.
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