The air of uncertainty over the Asia Cup 2020 scheduled for September in UAE has been settled.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday, July 9 confirmed that the event has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan but was likely to be moved to UAE after India’s unwillingness to travel to Pakistan.
The ACC also confirmed that the six team rescheduled event will now be held in Sri Lanka, as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) exchanged its hosting rights for the tournament with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The PCB will host the Asia Cup 2022.
The decision comes day after BCCI President Sourav Ganguly in an Instagram chat with Vikrant Gupta had revealed that the “Asia Cup 2020 event was cancelled”.
COVID-19 posed Substantial Challenges
ACC said that although it was keen on organising the Asia Cup 2020 as scheduled but the new normal due to COVID-19 posed substantial challenges.
“From the onset the Board was keen on organising the tournament as per the original schedule.
However, travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements, fundamental health risks and social distancing mandates have posed as substantial challenges to the holding of the Asia Cup.
“Above all, the risks related to health and safety of participating players, support staff, commercial partners, fans and the cricketing community were deemed to be significant.
“Accordingly, the Board, after careful consideration of all the above factors, has determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be postponed.”
The council mentioned that they are currently working towards organising the tournament, which was last won by India in 2018 after defeating Bangladesh by three wickets, in June 2021.
“Conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the priority of the ACC and the Board is hopeful that the tournament will be held in 2021. The ACC is currently working towards securing June 2021 as a suitable window for the same,” ACC said in an official statement.
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