Asia Cup 2018: BCCI Slams Fixture, Wants Rescheduled India-Pakistan Match

There is no doubt about the fact that an India-Pakistan cricketing clash is perhaps the biggest in the world. Ashes come close but the India-Pakistan duel is simply extraordinary. So, when the Asia Cup 2018 schedule was announced, all the fans were excited about the date of an epic clash. The match is slated to be played on 19th September. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is very surprised to see the scheduling of such a high voltage game.

As per the schedule, India will play the Qualifier on 18th September. However, their another match against Pakistan is on the very next day.

Moreover, the crowds from both the teams are always up for the clash. The two teams don’t meet each other in bilateral ties due to the political tensions escalating between the two nations. But, they keep on meeting each other in global tournaments.

The scheduling is mindless:

The Indian board described the decision by the ICC as “mindless”.

“The scheduling is mindless,” CricketNext quoted BCCI’s senior official as saying.

“There appears to be zero application of mind. How can you accept a scenario where India plays a game today and tomorrow it will face its arch-rival Pakistan who will have a two-day period of rest?” the official added.

“This is unacceptable and has to be revisited. Maybe for the organisers, it is just a money-spinning game. But for us it is important that there be equity in scheduling,” he further added.

Pakistan will play the Qualifier on 16^th September. They will get a couple of days to break before the high intense clash.

But on the other hand, India will be gasping for breath in the high voltage encounter. Hence, it will be a tough ask for them.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have qualified for the tournament directly. Oman, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, Nepal and Hong Kong will fight for the sixth spot.

Pertinently, India is placed with Pakistan and the Qualifier in Group A. Group B comprises of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The opener will be played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dubai on 15^th September. The mega final of the Asia Cup 2018 will be played on 28^th September. It would be interesting to see how things pan out following the reaction of BCCI.