BCCI confirm India Women's team participation in Asia Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) announced on Thursday that the Indian women’s team will take part in the Asia cup, scheduled to begin in Bangkok on Saturday, but uncertainty on whether they would face arch-rivals Pakistan in the competition remains to be seen.

“As of now, the Indian team will take part in the Asia Cup. But can’t tell you whether India will play Pakistan or not,” BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary said. India is scheduled to face Pakistan on November 29 after their tournament opener against hosts Thailand on Sunday.

BCCI had earlier threatened to pull out the men’s team from playing the Champions Trophy in England next year after the ICC docked the Indian women six points for not playing three scheduled matches which were a part of the ICC World Championship held from August 1 to October 31. The relation between the ICC and BCCI has been in turmoil for the last couple of months.

The BCCI led by President Anurag Thakur has repeatedly mentioned that resumption of bilateral ties between India and Pakistan is not possible due to cross-border terrorism. Keeping the tensions associated with the two countries in mind, resumption of bilateral ties between the two countries becomes a sensitive issue.

Both the men’s and women’s team last played Pakistan during the T20 World Cup in India earlier this year. As per the record, the Asian Cricket Council website has put the entire fixtures of the tournament, in which the match between the arch rivals has been scheduled as an ‘International T20’ unlike some of the other matches in the same event.

All the matches of the Asia Cup will be played at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok. The participating teams are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and hosts Thailand.

Check out – ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2016 schedule here