Report that Asia Cup venue may be moved from Pakistan; UAE is likely to get the opportunity

There are reports that the venue of the Asia Cup will be shifted from Pakistan. BCCI Secretary Jai Shah and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi held their first formal meeting in Bahrain on Saturday. After that, there are reports that the venue of the Asia Cup is changing. The Asian Cricket Council meeting in March will take a final decision in this regard.

It was announced in September this year that the Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan for the first time. But Jai Shah, who is also the WRA chairman, insisted that India would not go to Pakistan and that the venue should be changed.

There are indications that the Asia Cup could be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. But the final decision has not been made in this regard. The heads of all ACC member states attended the emergency meeting which was called on the instructions of PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.

16‘Unless the Asia Cup is held in Pakistan, the ODI World Cup should not be held in India’; Pakistan Cricket Board

“There were many discussions at the PGC meeting. But the decision to change the venue was postponed until March. But it is certain that the venue of the tournament will have to be changed as India is not ready to go to Pakistan. Since Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gilles are not participating in the Asia Cup, it will be difficult to find sponsors this time”, a senior BCCI official told PTI.

Pakistan is currently going through a major financial crisis, with the country’s currency plunging to Rs 277 against one US dollar. Inflation has also hit the country hard. It will be a big challenge for the PCB to organize a big level tournament like the Asia Cup even if ACC funds are allocated. If the tournament is held in the UAE, all member countries will participate.

The Asia Cup will be held in September this year. India did not go to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and insisted on a neutral venue. If that is the case, the Pakistan Board insisted that Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup held in India should be held at neutral venues in the Asian Cricket Council meeting. The BCCI responded by saying that this was a matter for the ICC to look into after PCB’s threat of not coming to India for the World Cup.

India last visited Pakistan for an international cricket match in 2008. Pakistan had arrived for the 2016 T20 World Cup, the last ICC event hosted by India.