Asia Cup 2020: Decision on venue expected by March end

New Delhi, March 5:  The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dubai on March 3 was set to decide the venue of this year's Asia Cup. But the meeting had to be postponed due to coronavirus scare and is now expected to be held in the third week of March. The meeting will once again serve as the decision-ground for the fate of the tournament which will be played in T20 format this year, keeping in mind the World T20 later in the year.

Speaking to IANS, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said that despite the March 3 meeting getting postponed, the situation remains the same as far as the PCB is concerned and only the ACC can take a call on the venue of the tournament.

"The situation hasn't changed as far as the PCB is concerned. The ACC Board remains the only competent body to make the decision on the venue of the 2020 Asia Cup. We hear the ACC will be meeting later this month. So, we wait to hear more from them," the official said.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had earlier announced that the Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and both India and Pakistan will take part in the tournament, but the PCB had clarified that only the ACC can decide on the venue of the tournament.

A BCCI official said that while the meeting will definitely have to be held before the ICC meeting, slated to take place at the end of the month, it could well be moved outside Dubai.

"The meeting will be held tentatively in the third week of March, prior to the ICC meeting on March 29. If the situation demands, we are open to hosting the meeting even in India," the official said.

While Pakistan was handed the right to host the tournament this year, the BCCI made it clear that the Indian boys wouldn't be able to play if the event is held in Pakistan.

"The question is not about the PCB hosting the tournament. It is about the venue and as things stand now, it is quite clear that we would need a neutral venue. There is no way that an Indian team can visit Pakistan to even participate in a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup. If the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is okay with an Asia Cup minus India, then it is a different ball game. But if India is to participate, the venue cannot be Pakistan," a BCCI official had told IANS.

In fact, problem in obtaining visa for Pakistan players to come and play the 2018 edition of Asia Cup in India was one of the major reasons why the tournament was shifted out of the country with BCCI hosting the event in UAE.