Financial tension: Pakistan, Sri Lanka in tussle over Asia Cup costs

• Sri Lanka demands payment; Pakistan questions bills.
• ACC refuses to cover extra costs after PCB added another venue.
• Pakistan questions several bills, delaying payments.

Financial disagreements between Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the 2023 Asia Cup have emerged, leading to a tense situation that requires immediate attention.

The root of the problem can be traced back to the planning stages of the Asia Cup, which was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan. However, due to India’s unwillingness to participate in Pakistan, the venue was moved to Sri Lanka, and a Hybrid Model was used for the event. The tournament took place from August 30 to September 17 of the previous year, but financial disputes between the host countries have persisted.

During the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Bali, Indonesia, Shami Silva, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket, brought up the issue of unpaid hotel bills. In response, Jay Shah, the ACC President, advised Silva to directly negotiate with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resolve the issue.

It is reported that Pakistan’s position is centered around the pending verification of several bills, which is hindering the payment process. Moreover, the matter of chartered flights remains unresolved, adding to the tension between the cricket boards.

The PCB contends that the decision to not host the entire Asia Cup in Pakistan was made by the Asian Cricket Council, and as such, they should bear some of the additional costs. The dispute escalates as the flights were arranged through Classic Travel, a Sri Lankan company that was not pre-qualified.

The PCB made an initial payment of $281,700 for the four chartered flights. They also agreed to pay Sri Lanka $2,069,885 for the venue hire, with 50% and then 25% paid before the event. The remaining amount was to be paid after the event, as per the agreement.

Interestingly, the Asian Cricket Council was expected to pay a hosting fee of 2.5 million dollars to Pakistan. However, the conflict intensifies as the estimated costs for the event were around 4 million dollars.

The original schedule, which was limited to Lahore, was modified by the PCB to include Multan and host the opening match there. The ACC’s unwillingness to cover these extra costs adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing financial disputes.

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