'Won't postpone PSL to host Asia Cup next year' - PCB responds to BCCI official's suggestion

At a time when the whole world has eagerly been waiting for the resumption of cricketing action, PCB CEO Wasim Khan recently revealed that the much-awaited Asia Cup is slated to be hosted in September or October this year.

However, Wasim Khan’s statement didn’t go down well with a BCCI official, who suggested the PCB CEO to postpone the PSL next year and try slotting the Asia Cup in that particular window. The BCCI official also suspected that conducting the Asia Cup this year would be a struggle during the pandemic situation.

“The Asia Cup will go ahead. The Pakistan team returns from England on 2nd September so we can have the tournament in September or October,” Wasim Khan had said.

In response to the PCB CEO, a BCCI functionary revealed, “Asia Cup will be a struggle this year. Going by the statement of the Chief Executive of the PCB, the window that suits them doesn’t suit India. Maybe they can postpone PSL next year if BCCI is able to open up a window during that period. Otherwise conducting the Asia Cup doesn’t seem too practical as these are challenging times.”

PSL 2020 was called off in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak

Responding to the BCCI official’s suggestion, the PCB has made it clear that it has no plans of postponing the PSL in order to fit the Asia Cup in that window. According to sources, the PCB is not even going to consider the idea proposed by the BCCI official and the Pakistan board is planning to host the Asia Cup at a neutral venue.

This year’s edition of the PSL was called off before the semi-finals in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the rise in positive cases, the league was suspended just before the playoffs and the PCB is hopeful of hosting the remaining encounters in the latter part of the year.

BCCI, on the other hand, is keen on hosting the much-anticipated IPL 2020 in the September-October window. The Indian board is eagerly awaiting ICC’s statement over the fate of the T20 World Cup 2020. If the showpiece event in Australia gets pushed further to next year, it will open a fresh window for the BCCI to conduct the IPL.