The Asia Cup, which involves six countries from the continent, will not take place in Sri Lanka, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed after the Board’s Apex Council meeting. The tournament will move to the UAE.
Asia Cup is scheduled to kick off on August 27 and the final will be played on September 11. All games will be played in the T20 format.
Also read: With senior players rested, Shikhar Dhawan’s India look to dominate West Indies
“Asia Cup will be in UAE, as it is the only place where there won’t be rains,” Ganguly told reporters.
The BCCI head’s announcement comes a day after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the board will not be in a position to host the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup. The island nation is currently facing unprecedented economic and political crisis.
Also read: KL Rahul-Jhulan Goswami video in nets at NCA goes viral
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s new President, will swear in his Cabinet on Friday comprising members of the previous government including Dinesh Gunewardena, a close ally of the Rajapaksa family, who is tippled to be the next prime minister.
“Sri Lankan cricket has conveyed that due to the existing political and economic situation in their country specially where foreign exchange is concerned it is not an ideal situation for them to host such a mega-event of six teams in the island,” an ACC source told PTI.
Also read: Ben Stokes replies to Virat Kohli’s comment on his retirement post
India have dominated the Asia Cup since it was first held – 1984. The Men in Blue have been crowned champions seven times in their 12 appearances. Sri Lanka have won the cup five times.
The BCCI is mulling to restart the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup, while a full Ranji Trophy season is also on the cards for the upcoming domestic season, as discussed in the Apex meet.
The Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup have not taken place for at least three seasons, while the BCCI had to cancel the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last season, BCCI held a curtailed Ranji Trophy season.
