The Asia Cup, one of the most anticipated cricket tournaments of the year, is facing potential cancellation due to a lack of consensus on the hosting venue. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially holds the rights to host the tournament, India has refused to travel to the country due to ongoing political tensions.
This has put the PCB in a difficult position, as they have proposed a hybrid model for the tournament that would allow India to play their matches in the UAE, while the other teams would play in Pakistan.
However, reports suggest that Sri Lanka Cricket and the Bangladesh Cricket Board have refused the proposal, citing heat in the UAE as a reason. This has left the tournament’s fate in jeopardy, with the PCB adamant that if the tournament is held entirely at another venue, they will pull out.
PCB Chairman Najam Sethi has been working hard to find a solution to the issue, traveling to the UAE to convince the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and exploring other potential venues.
Sethi has confirmed that a final decision regarding the Asia Cup hosting venue will be taken within two weeks. He remains optimistic but cautious, stating that “nothing has been finalized yet. We will finalize the decision over the Asia cricket Cup within the next two weeks.”
While the Asia Cup’s fate hangs in the balance, plans for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India are becoming clearer. The tournament is set to kick off with a clash between the 2019 World Cup finalists, England and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the highly-anticipated match between India and Pakistan, which is scheduled for October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup are two of the biggest events in the cricket calendar, and the uncertainty surrounding the former is a cause for concern among fans and stakeholders alike. However, the cricketing world remains hopeful that a solution will be found, and that the tournament will go ahead as planned.
For now, all eyes are on the PCB as they work to ensure that the Asia Cup lives up to its reputation as one of the most exciting cricket tournaments in the world.
