SINGAPORE: Pakistan are set to host the forthcoming edition of T20I Asia Cup in the year 2020 following the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting held in Singapore.
The decision comes with a huge question mark considering the long standing position of defending champions India that they would not play their traditional rivals even in neutral territories, let alone in Pakistan.
The tournament is scheduled be held in September ahead of the World T20 in Australia. Team India had defeated Bangladesh in the final of the last edition in 2018, which was held in the United Arab of Emirates (UAE).
Pertinently, it was decided in the meeting that the tournament will be shifted to an alternate venue if the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan do not improve by the timethe the event comes around.
Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri was a part of the meeting in Singapore.
Apart from the Asia Cup, the inclusion of cricket in the 2022 Asian Games was also touched upon in the meeting. The ACC has reaffirmed its stand to include cricket in 2022 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China.
The decision regarding the inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games was taken at the OCA’s General Assembly in Bangkok in March 2018 after the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) included cricket in its sports programme.
