MUMBAI: The Asian Cricket Council has confirmed media reports that the 2021 edition of the Asia Cup, which was scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka in June, stands cancelled.
This year’s continental tournament was moved from Pakistan to Sri Lanka but rising cases in the island nation was the purported reason given for its cancellation. With Asian (and world) cricket’s “big daddy” India having a packed schedules until the end of the year, finding a window for the tournament that ensured India’s presence this year would have been extremely difficult. And seeing as a multi-nation cricket event without India essentially means that the “money will NOT be shown”, it was always a no-go.
This edition of the Asia Cup has therefore been shifted to 2023. And with the Pakistan scheduled to host the 2022 edition, the Asia Cup will see two editions in two years.
The ACC issued the following statement about the cancellation/postponement:
“The ACC Executive Board, in face of the risks and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, had made the difficult decision to postpone the Asia Cup 2020 to 2021. Since then, the ACC has been working with its participants and stakeholders to try and ensure that the event is held in the year.
“However, on account of a packed FTP, it has been concluded that there is no practical window in the year when all the teams would be available to participate. The Board has accordingly considered the matter very carefully and determined that the only way ahead would be to postpone the event.
“It would therefore only be feasible for this edition of the tournament to be held in 2023 as there is already an Asia Cup in 2022. Dates for the same will be confirmed in due course.”
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Asia Cup in Lanka called off, Pak to host 2022 edition: Reports
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