KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board, which holds the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2020 that is scheduled to be held in September, has made clear it will only accept a change of date on the grounds of health safety issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The assertion made by PCB CEO Wasim Khan to Pakistan’s GTV News channel comes in the wake of a suggestion put forward by Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar that that the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League could be held in September, and the Asia Cup moved to a November-December slot.
“Our stance is absolutely clear, the Asia Cup is set for September and the only reason it should not take place is continued health safety issues. We will not accept that the Asia Cup is moved to accommodate the IPL,” Khan said on GTV News.
“I have heard that there is talk to move the Asia Cup to November-December but for us that is not possible. If you move the Asia Cup you are making way for one member nation and that is not right and it will not have our support,” he added.
Khan said Pakistan will host Zimbabwe and then tour New Zealand in this November-December and so hosting Asian Cup in this period is not an option for them.
Khan told the news channel that the BCCI representative did not raise the IPL window issue at Thursday’s ICC chief executives’ committee meeting that was held Wednesday via conference call.
