Uncertainty Over India Hosting the Asia Cup Still Looms as ACC Unable to Decide

The uncertainty over India hosting the Asia Cup in 2018 will continue as the Asian Cricket Council failed to come up with a decision due to India’s reluctance to host Pakistan. With the increasing tensions at the border of the two nations, the two countries have stopped playing bilateral series against each other. The last time the two teams met in a bilateral series was the 2012-13 limited overs series.

Pakistan Cricket Board has been trying hard to arrange a bilateral series between the two nations, but the Indian board has been reluctant to play without any government clearance as it is well understood that a cricket match between the two nations is more than a sport for the country.

The BCCI is reluctant to host Pakistan without any governance clearance. According to initial reports, India was going to withdraw from hosting the tournament next year. However, with no decision taken by the ACC or any of the two boards, the status of the tournament remains the same for the meanwhile.

A source close to the matter told Geo.tv:

“Asia Cup 2018 was awarded last year to India, so far there is no change in status. BCCI has not yet received permission from the Indian government to host it. Neither has PCB gotten permission from the Pakistani government to play in India, hence the uncertainty persists.”

The tournament will take place in September 2018 but the BCCI is yet to seek permission from the government to host their neighbours:

“The BCCI is yet to seek permission from the government for the same. This being an ACC competition, the government could give an approval. It will be interesting to see how BCCI tackles this situation.”