Presence of Pakistan prompts Asia Cup shift from India to UAE

TIL Desk Sports/ The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has shifted the 50-over Asia Cup from India to United Arab Emirates as the BCCI could not procure permission from the central government to host Pakistan.

The tournament will now be held from September 13-28 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi after all the member nations of ACC agreed unanimously for the change during a meeting at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters. The BCCI was represented by its CEO Rahul Johri, who placed the request during the meeting chaired by PCB chairman Najam Sethi.

“Johri apprised the ACC board of the current situation. The BCCI has got a clearance that they can play Pakistan at a neutral venue. While it is a given for ICC tournaments, Asia Cup being an ACC tournament needed a government approval. Once the approval to allow Indian team play Pakistan at a neutral venue was agreed upon, the board’s request was placed,” a senior BCCI official told.

He agreed that in current scenario, chances of hosting Pakistan was next to nil. “Since this is not World Cup, Champions Trophy or World T20, it was a foregone conclusion that the government would not approve BCCI hosting Pakistan in prevailing circumstances. The public sentiment needs to be respected,” the official said.