Threatened by India’s decision of non-participation in Asia Cup 2020 – to be hosted in Pakistan – the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is understood to have agreed to host the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to have the Men in Blue’s participate, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Earlier, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said that there’s no way India would be participating in the Asia Cup 2020 if Pakistan were to host the tournament. Another BCCI official has said to Cricket Age that the board has the understanding that Asia Cup 2020 will now be held in Dubai ahead of the ICC World T20 in Australia scheduled to be played in October.
“Our understanding is that the Asia Cup matter is resolved, and the neutral venue will be finalised at the ACC meeting,” the BCCI official told Cricket Age .
When contacted, PCB chief Ehsan Mani refused to comment on the development and said the venue will be decided at the ACC meeting. “It is an ACC matter and the venue will be decided at the ACC meeting,” said Ehsan Mani.
However, the first priority for the BCCI will be to sort out its representation for the ACC meeting. The BCCI AGM is yet to decide its representatives. With BCCI usually sending two officials for ACC meets, it would be interesting to see who will be the second person to join Jay Shah. Earlier, Shah was nominated for the ICC CEO meetings.
Meanwhile, Pakistan hold the hosting rights for the Asia Cup, which is slated to be played in September just before the 2020 ICC World T20.
