India, the reigning continental champions, are likely to skip the 2020 Asia Cup, thus failing to defend the title, thanks to their bilateral relation, or the lack of it, with Pakistan. Pakistan are slated to host the tournament in September this year. (More Cricket News)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is clear that it has no problem with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hosting the 2020 edition, but the venue needs to be a neutral one as travelling to the neighbouring country isn't an option at present.
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that the hosting rights is not an issue and it is just a case of picking a neutral venue as the Indian team wouldn't be travelling to Pakistan for the T20 tournament that will see the top Asian teams in action.
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The 2020 edition of Asia Cup is set to be a preparatory ground for the World T20 in Australia.
"The question isn't about the PCB hosting the tournament. It is about the venue and as things stand now, it is quite clear that we would need a neutral venue. There is no way that an Indian team can visit Pakistan to even participate in a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup. If the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is ok with an Asia Cup minus India then it is a different ball game. But if India is to participate in the Asia Cup, then the venue cannot be Pakistan," the official said.
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In fact, issues in obtaining visa for Pakistan players to come and play the 2018 edition of the Asia Cup in India was one of the major reasons why the tournament was shifted out of the country with BCCI hosting the event in UAE.
The official said that the PCB can do just the same and host the event in a neutral venue. "A neutral venue is always an option. BCCI did it in 2018," the official pointed.
Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will be holding a meeting in February to discuss the hosting of the tournament in Pakistan.
"ACC will have a meeting sometime in February to discuss issues related to the hosting of the Asia Cup this year. This year Pakistan is the host so it is Pakistan's call if they want to host the tournament or not," an ACC source told ANI.
When asked what will happen if India decides to opt-out of the tournament, the ACC source replied: "I cannot make a comment on this, this is a matter between India and Pakistan".
Cricket returned to Pakistan after a decade when Sri Lanka toured the nation in 2019. While Sri Lanka was the first nation to play a full series in the country, Bangladesh is currently in the country as they just finished playing three T20Is. They will play a Test from February 7 to 11 and then play a one-off ODI before playing the second Test from April 5 to 9.
