Ehsan Mani, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman on Sunday confirmed that the Asia Cup which was slated to be held in June 2021 is likely to be postponed if India manages to qualify for the finals of the World Test Championship.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani on Sunday said that the Asia Cup 2021, which is scheduled to be held in the month of June according to the FTP, is likely to be postponed till 2023 if the Indian team qualifies for the ICC World Test Championship final, which is also slated to be held during that period in England.
Ehsan Mani: Asia Cup Was Set To Be Held In 2020 But Was Postponed To 2021
The PCB chairman revealed the details of the Asia Cup 2021, to be held finally in Sri Lanka after being postponed, while addressing a press conference on Sunday in Karachi.
“Asia Cup was set to go last year but it got postponed to this year. Right now, it looks like Asia Cup won’t be going ahead this year as the WTC finals are set to go ahead in June. Sri Lanka had said that they would try to host the tournament in June,” Ehsan Mani told reporters in Karachi during a press conference.
“The dates are clashing. We think the tournament would not be going ahead, and we might have to push the tournament to 2023,” he added.
PCB CEO Wasim Khan also said that it looks like India will reach the finals of the WTC, in all probability so the Asia Cup needs to be postponed.
“It looks like India has reached the finals and they will clash against New Zealand. This is why the Asia Cup set to be played in Sri Lanka won’t go ahead. We are waiting for confirmation but if it does not go ahead, we are planning for the future,” said Khan during a virtual press conference.
India were the defending champions of Asia Cup 2016, and retained their title in 2018, after beating Bangladesh by three wickets in the final. Asia Cup 2016 was a T20 tournament. India won all of its matches played in Asia Cup 2016 beating Bangladesh 2 times, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and UAE.
Ehsan Mani: PCB Want Written Confirmation To Get Visas For T20I World Cup
“India is set to host T20 World Cup in October-November this year. I have told the board that we want written confirmation from India that our fans, journalists, and players will get visas. I have a meeting with ICC and I will raise this point once again,” said Mani.
PCB has asked India for visa assurances for their players, support staff, fans, and media. Ehsan Mani also said that if India fails to provide assurance then the T20 World Cup needs to be shifted elsewhere.
“The ICC has said that the assurance will come by March. If we do not get the assurance, then the tournament needs to be moved. We have a visa problem, Covid-19 situation also needs to be looked at. The ICC has made a contingency plan that if T20 World Cup cannot be played in India, then it will go ahead in the UAE,” Ehsan Mani further stated.
“The ICC management has said that the decision needs to be finalized by March 31,” he added.
Ehsan Mani revealed that if India is unable to issue visas for the World Cup, the ICC has already decided beforehand that the T20I World Cup in India would be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while adding that the governing body wants to come to a decision by March 31.