The novel COVID-19 or coronavirus has massively hit the daily busy life of the world. While the situation is moving towards the out of control in many countries with the time progress, it is also affecting some future events, including in sports. While cricket has already got some massive blow due to the coronavirus, the game is getting ready to face more lengthy troubles as the Asia Cup 2020 is now fully doubtful. An official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently given a hint of the future of Asia Cup 2020.
Asia Cup 2020 will be the T20I format competition. Apart from the five ICC Full Members from Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan), another team will qualify for this tournament. The tournament has been scheduled to be organised in September 2020, around one month ahead of the beginning of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia.
Initially, Pakistan was awarded to host the Asia Cup 2020. Later, the BCCI has requested to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host this tournament outside Pakistan as the Indian team can’t travel in Pakistan at the present moment. While the competition can’t be successful financially in the absence of India, the PCB has decided to host this tournament outside Pakistan.
The new hosting nation was likely to be decided in this March. But the coronavirus has forced to postpone the recent Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, and that’s why the venue hasn’t been decided yet. Now, recently, a BCCI official has claimed that the Asia Cup 2020 is unlikely to be organised due to the present uncertainty situation along with the global crisis.
The BCCI official told IANS, “Though it doesn’t seem right to be talking about cricket schedules as of now, we can safely assume that Asia Cup isn’t a possibility. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 is unknown as of now. The job losses across sectors and the impact on the economy is also unknown.
“The sports organisation are also hit deeply and there will be some tough measures once some semblance of normalcy returns. There are liabilities and difficulties that the Board faces and it will be a new kind of a challenge to deal with them.”
PCB is also unsure about the Asia Cup 2020
Meanwhile, a PCB official has also claimed that they have no idea when the next ACC meeting will take place. So, the fate of the upcoming Asia Cup is still under the dark cloud.
The PCB official told IANS, “We cannot throw light on when the next Asian Cricket Council meeting will take place and on decisions around the Asia Cup and its fate.”
Asia Cup 2020 will be the good preparation for the Asian teams ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020. Australia has the schedule to organise the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 between 18th October and 15th November 2020. However, the fate of this forthcoming T20 World Cup is also in danger.