Pakistan Not To Host Asia Cup 2020 As India Refuse To Tour Neighbours: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has remained firm on its stance of not playing cricket on Pakistani soil which has pretty much jeopardised Pakistan’s hopes of hosting the Asia Cup this year. And according to latest media reports, Pakistan have lost the right of hosting the tournament due to India’s stand.

The tournament, which may be organised in T20 format, will be held in September ahead of the World T20 in Australia. The venue for the competition now looks set to be changed as it was done a couple of years ago when the event was shifted from India to the UAE. India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals.

Also Read: Ind vs Aus 2020: Aaron Finch Hints At Josh Hazlewood’s Inclusion For Rajkot ODI

They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC organised events or the Asia Cup. India last played on Pakistan soil in 2008. The Mumbai terror attack later that year meant the tour turned out to be India’s last visit to the country. The bilateral ties became worse last year after the Pulwama attack in February. There were also question marks over the match between the two nations at the World Cup but fortunately it went ahead.

But unlike the World Cup clash, India and Pakistan are very much unlikely to play the Asia Cup on Pakistani soil. Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury has also made it pretty much clear that Pakistan are unlikely to host the Asia Cup because of India’s insistence on not touring the country.

“There is no relation between Asia Cup and the series. There was a discussion regarding the Asia Cup venue on the sideline of the meeting. Pakistan is the host of the tournament but they may not host it as India will not tour Pakistan,” Nizamuddin told reporters on Thursday.

The BCB CEO stated that Pakistan could try to hold some matches in neutral venues but the financial cost of the project would make this idea unrealistic.

“Pakistan may give a proposal of hosting half of the matches in Pakistan and the matches of India could be hosted in Dubai or Malaysia. But it seems a little unrealistic as it will raise the cost and will make the tournament lengthy,” he said.

India, meanwhile, are the defending champions of the competition. In 2018, they had defeated Bangladesh in the final to lift the trophy.