PCB Will Not Agree To Asia Cup Cancellation To Accommodate IPL: Ehsan Mani
Updated - 15 Apr 2020, 03:27 PM
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made it clear that it will not agree to Asia Cup 2020 cancellation to accommodate the Indian Premier League (IPL), when the season resumes after being disrupted due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, with the situation far from normal, it still remains to be seen if any of these two tournaments gets underway in the ongoing calendar year.
The Asia Cup 2020 hangs in the balance as it is slated to get underway in September 2020. IPL parent body, BCCI, meanwhile has adapted the ‘wait and watch’ policy and they can reportedly postponed the tournament indefinitely. The lucrative tournament was originally slated to get underway from March 29 before being deferred to April 15 but with the lockdown extended till May 3, it has been postponed further, and there is no clear call taken on the tournament yet.
“I have read and heard about these speculations but right now just remember that having or not having the Asia Cup is not a decision between Pakistan and India it involves other countries as well,” Ehsan Mani said.
PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani highlights importance of Asia Cup
The Asia Cup is a traditional tournament and allows the teams in the subcontinent to develop further with the funding. Ehsan Mani believes it is an important tournament for the members of the Asian Cricket Council but there is an uncertainty this year if it will be held.
“…it is important to have the Asia Cup if cricket activities resume by then because development of Asian cricket depends on funding from the tournament. It is important for many countries who are members of the Asian Cricket Council,” he added in a podcast released by the PCB.
However, he added that, “we don’t know if it can be held or not.”
In the current scenario, the way thing are progressing due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are minimal chances of any sports event to take place this year with marquee events like Olympics and Wimbledon already called-off or postponed for next year.
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