Sri Lanka Unlikely To Host Asia Cup 2022 Amid Economic Crisis - Reports

Sri Lanka is likely to lose the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2022 amid an ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. Reports have suggested the biennial tournament will be moved out from Sri Lanka.

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 hosts for the Asia Cup, which they were initially supposed to host in 2020 but the tournament was deferred due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

Sri Lanka to lose hosting rights amid economic and political crisis – 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 current political tensions. The report suggested that there is a possibility that hosting rights will be transferred to another country. The schedule of the Asia Cup 2022 will reportedly be discussed at the quarterly meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The report also mentioned that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja and Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain will attend the meeting on Sunday in Dubai.

Sri Lanka is also slated to host Australia and Pakistan in the period between June-August for bilateral series sequentially.

Asia Cup 2022 to be played in T20 format

This would be the second instance of the Asia Cup being played in the T20 format, the last time it was played in 2016 in Bangladesh just prior to the T20 World Cup. India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup after defeating Bangladesh in the final in 2018.

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

Five Sri Lankan players- Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB), Dushmantha Chameera (LSG), Chamika Karunaratne (KKR), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (PBKS) and Maheesh Theekshana (CSK) – are currently playing in the IPL 2022 in India.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022 All Set To Take Place In Sri Lanka From August 27 To September 11