Sourav Ganguly, BCCI
Sourav Ganguly (Credit: Twitter)

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly will not attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dubai, scheduled on March 3, due to the coronavirus threat. Over the last few days, around 730 cases of coronavirus were reported in UAE, creating panic among travellers and locals.

The former India captain Ganguly on last Friday said Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and both India and Pakistan will participate in the continental tournament. However, PCB chief Ehsan Mani has contradicted his version.

Pakistan was scheduled to host the Asia Cup this year but amidst tensions between the two countries and security concerns in Pakistan, the BCCI said the Indian team will not travel there.

However, after Ganguly’s statement, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made it clear that only the ACC can decide on the venue of the tournament.

Sourav Ganguly To Avoid ACC Meeting Due To Coronavirus Threat:

Sourav Ganguly, BCCI, Asia Xi vs World XI
Sourav Ganguly (Credits – Twitter)

“Ganguly was supposed to leave tonight but coronavirus scare in the UAE has led to the postponement of the meeting,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Ganguly, who took the reins of the BCCI in October 2019, was supposed to fly out for the meeting on Sunday. Pakistan Cricket Board CEO, Wasim Khan, had also refrained from flying out to Dubai for the meeting as per media reports.

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One of the key discussions of the meeting was to be the venue of the next Asia cup which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan next month.

However, after India’s decision to not let the players travel to Pakistan over security concern, the ACC was mulling to shift the venue.

UAE T20X
Credits – Twitter

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the first country in West Asia to report a confirmed COVID-19 case in the region.

The Emirati Education Ministry on Saturday had announced the suspension of nursery school classes as well as all external and internal school activities and trips for prevention against the COVID-19 virus.

The UAE is a major business hub in the region and one of the primary transit points for passengers travelling to China and other destinations in Asia.

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