ACC set to move Asia Cup out of Pakistan after members reject PCB's hybrid model
Sri Lanka may host tournament
New Delhi, May 8: In a huge setback to Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Monday decided to move the Asia Cup out of the country after PCB's proposal to host the tournament on a 'hybrid model' was rejected by the member nations.
Sri Lanka has emerged as a front runner to host the six-nation tournament as extremely humid conditions in the UAE in the month of September could lead to injuries to players.
It will be interesting to see if Pakistan, after this snub, competes in the tournament, scheduled to be held from September 2-17.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was forced to propose an alternative after BCCI refused to send the Indian team to the neighbouring nation due to diplomatic tension between the two countries.
The PCB is hopeful that there will be another round of discussions on Tuesday in case there is a change of heart.
PCB had proposed that India play their games in the UAE while Pakistan host their matches on home soil.
"Najam Sethi (PCB chairman) was in Dubai today to procure support but to his horror there were no takers for his proposal of Pakistan playing its games in Karachi or Lahore and India playing in UAE. Sri Lanka was always with BCCI and now even Bangladesh Cricket Board seemed opposed to the idea," an ACC source told PTI.
"ACC has always maintained that in principle the 'hybrid model' is unacceptable and the budgetary sanctions can never be passed."
"Also it's not about Pakistan hosting its own matches. It also means that if India and Pakistan are in same group, the third team will be travelling to and fro between Dubai and a city in Pakistan," the source added.
What added fuel to the fire is PCB's recent decision to host Pakistan Super League's matches in UAE due to escalated costs of security arrangements.
"Also logistically, the broadcasters wouldn't want to send separate units in two countries. Sri Lanka, just like UAE doesn't require inter-city flights whether you play at the Khettarama (Premadasa Stadium), SSC or Galle or Kandy," he added.
However the ACC chairman Jay Shah will need to convene an Executive Body meeting to make the decision official.
In the prevailing situation, whether Pakistan participates in the event or decides against coming to India for the World Cup remains to be seen.
"Even ICC won't agree to Pakistan playing its matches outside India (during World Cup). So let's see what PCB decides," the source added.
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Kerala minor girl rape: 44 arrested, two accused abroad, says police
Pathanamthitta (PTI): The special investigation team (SIT) of Kerala police probing the sensational case of alleged sexual abuse of a Dalit girl in the district has arrested 44 people so far in connection with the matter, a senior police officer of the district said on Tuesday.
DIG S Ajeetha Begum, who is overseeing the investigation, said that 30 FIRs have been registered in connection with the alleged sexual assault of the girl and out of the 59 accused mentioned in the cases, 44 have been arrested.
"Two of the accused are absconding. They are abroad at present. We are considering issuing Look out Circulars for them. We are also planning to issue a Red Corner notice for them through Interpol," the officer told TV channels.
Besides them, 13 more have to be arrested, she said.
"We are searching for their locations. They will be arrested soon. A foolproof and scientific investigation will be carried out by the SIT. We will not spare any of the accused. There will be no compromise. We will bring all of them before the law," the officer said.
The investigation so far has revealed that several of the accused met the girl at a private bus stand in Pathanamthitta. She was then taken to various locations in vehicles and subjected to abuse, police said.
The probe also found that the girl, while she was studying class XII last year, was taken by a youth who was acquainted with her through Instagram to a rubber plantation in Ranni, where he raped her along with three others.
Police said the investigation revealed she was gang-raped on at least five occasions, including incidents inside a car and at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in January 2024.
The girl, who is now 18 years old, has alleged in her complaint that she was sexually abused by 62 individuals since the age of 13.
The matter came to light during counselling conducted by the Child Welfare Committee, after the victim's teachers at an educational institution informed the panel about noticeable changes in her behaviour.
The Committee, subsequently, notified the police and an investigation is on.
The SIT had been formed to conduct a comprehensive probe into the incident, with Pathanamthitta Deputy SP P S Nandakumar leading the team under the supervision of District Police Chief V G Vinod Kumar.
The team comprises over 30 police officers, including women, from various ranks and stations.
DIG Ajitha Beegam said that once the Sabarimala pilgrimage season gets over, more officers will be included in the SIT.
