Pakistan has got the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2020. While the defending champions India are unlikely to travel the neighbouring country for the tournament. Now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mulling to give up the hosting rights.
Asia Cup 2020 will be the 15th edition of Asia Cup. This edition will be played in T20I format, which will be the second Asia Cup T20 after 2016. A total of six teams will participate in this tournament which will be played in September 2020.
Apart from the five Full Members (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan), the other one will qualify from the 2020 Asia Cup Qualifier that will be played in August 2020.
Since 2008, India hasn’t travelled Pakistan for international cricket. India-Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series in international cricket after January 2013, mainly due to the political tensions between the two countries. At present, they only meet in the ACC or ICC tournaments.
Pakistan may give up the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2020:
While Pakistan has the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2020, the Indian team has the rare chance to tour this country at the present moment. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already requested the PCB to change the venue for the Asia Cup 2020.
Understanding the present situation, the PCB is also thinking to change the hosting country of Asia Cup 2020.
Talking about it, the PCB chief Ehsan Mani said, “We have to ensure that earnings of the associate members are not affected. It is not so much about the full members but about the associate members.”
Choosing about the neutral venue for the Asia Cup 2020, the PCB will accept whichever the majority teams will suggest. The ACC is likely to finalise the venue of the Asia Cup 2020 in early March.
In 2018, India had the hosting rights of Asia Cup 2018 (ODI format). But due to the political tensions between the two countries, there was no chance for the Pakistan players to participate in that tournament.
Back then, the BCCI gave up the hosting rights, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted that tournament.