It Will Now Totally Depend On Other Countries - Arjun Ranatunga On Sri Lanka's Chances Of Hosting Asia Cup 2022

Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjun Ranatunga said the country’s chances of hosting the Asia Cup 2022 will depend upon the understanding of other administrators (Cricket Boards) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

The Asia Cup 2022 is scheduled to be played in the T20 format in Sri Lanka between August 27 and September 11. Sri Lanka was named the host nation for the biennial event, which the island nation was initially supposed to host in 2020 but the tournament was deferred amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

Asia Cup 2022 is unlikely to be held in Sri Lanka – Reports

According to a report filed by Geo Super, it has been learned that Sri Lanka can lose the hosting rights for the Asia Cup due to the economic crisis and current political tensions. Sri Lanka continues to face their biggest economic crisis since its independence in 1948. Citizens have been protesting on the streets after the prices of essential commodities soared up and it is also learned that the essentials are becoming scarce day by day in the island nation.

I hope and pray for the country’s sake that Asia Cup 2022 should happen in Sri Lanka: Arjun Ranatunga

Ranatunga, who is the former chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), said the Asia Cup can only go ahead in the country if other participating countries give their consent although he wants the event to take place in Sri Lanka.

“I don’t think the protestors will have any issues with the cricket matches. They only have a problem with the government and they will not be interrupting the tournament. But the people in the administration are highly unprofessional and have ruined the cricket board. I have no idea how are they going to handle the situation,” he added. 

Five Test-playing nations- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play the Asia Cup 2022 with one more team to make the cut in the qualifiers stage starting on August 20.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Arjuna Ranatunga Asks Sri Lankan Players Contracted With IPL Teams To Speak Out Amid Economic Crisis