Reports: Pakistan might shift Asia Cup 2020 to UAE

The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan haven’t been on good terms with tensions being escalating every now and then between the two countries. Indian cricket team last played an international match against Pakistan in Pakistan in 2008. Both teams played a bilateral series way back in 2012. The two countries last played against each other in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 held in England. India ensured to keep their winning run intact against Pakistan in the ICC tournaments.

A huge uproar was created when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer, Wasim Khan made a statement that Pakistan won’t participate in the next year’s T20 International World Cup in India if India refuses to participate in Asia Cup 2020. However, PCB CEO Wasim Khan later claimed that his statement was taken out of context.

As the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2020 are with Pakistan, reports in Mumbai Mirror suggested that Pakistan Cricket Board has accepted the demands of BCCI to host the multi-national Asia cup at a neutral venue in order to ensure the Indian Cricket team’s participation in the tournament.

Asia Cup matter is resolved: BCCI official

Earlier, BCCI official had stated that there’s no way the Indian team will participate if Asia Cup 2020 is held in Pakistan with concerns over the security arrangements and the ongoing tensions between the two nations. However, now, the BCCI official has stated that the tournament is most likely to be out to a neutral venue, “Our understanding is that the Asia Cup matter is resolved, and the neutral venue will be finalised at the ACC meeting,” the BCCI official told Mirror.

Nevertheless, the first priority of the BCCI will be to finalize the two-member representatives who will attend the ACC meeting. Earlier, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah was nominated to attend the ICC CEO meetings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Ehsan Mani remained silent on the recent developments of where the Asia Cup 2020 will be played. PCB Chief Mani said that the venue will be decided in the ACC meeting, “It is an ACC matter and the venue will be decided at the ACC meeting,” said Ehsan Mani.