I will go with ACC’s decision on Hybrid Model: PCB’s would be chairman Ashraf does U-turn

In less than 24 hours after he had officially “rejected” the ‘Hybrid Model’ for the Asia Cup after Asian Cricket Council’s formal nod, Pakan Cricket Board’s soon-to-be chairman Zaka Ashraf did a complete ‘volte-face’ accepting the four matches awarded to the original hosts.
The Hybrid Model virtue of which Asia Cup will be co-hosted Pakan and Sri Lanka will have India playing all their games, including two against the arch-rivals in the island nation.
The model was proposed Ashraf’s predecessor and bete noire Najam Sethi and the banker, who will take over the reins of PCB on June 27 had “rejected” the idea during a media conference.
It has been learnt that Ashraf didn’t know that PCB chief Sethi had already been a signatory to ‘Hybrid Model’ which has been passed the all-powerful ACC Executive board headed BCCI supremo Jay Shah and the decision can’t be reversed.
Pakan Cricket Board could have faced punitive action if Ashraf without full details of the event would have created a roadblock.
“In my personal opinion, this whole hybrid model isn’t beneficial for Pakan and I didn’t like it,” Ashraf was quoted as saying ESPN Cricinfo.
“Being a host, Pakan should have negotiated better to make sure that the entire tournament should have been played in Pakan. Sri Lanka taking the bigger lot of games, leaving Pakan with only four games, isn’t in the best interest of our country,” he added.
Ashraf then admitted that he didn’t know full details and did a complete U-turn.
“But I see the decision has been made, so we have to go with it. I will not block or have any intention not to comply with the decision. I cannot do much about it but to honour the commitment. But going forward, every decision we make will be made for and in the interest of the country.”