Reports: Bangladesh to be possible venue for Asia Cup 2020

The Asia Cup 2020’s venue has become a big spot of bother for the Asian Cricket Council after India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, who are the original hosts of the tournament. The last edition of the tournament was to be hosted by India, but due to tensions between the two nations, UAE hosted the Asia Cup 2018 and it seems ACC is looking for another country to host the event.

With 2020 being the T20 World Cup year, the Asia Cup 2020 will also be a 20-over affair, something similar to the 2016 event, which was played in Bangladesh. Also, it seems that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has chosen Bangladesh as the replacement host for the tournament and has already sealed a deal with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), as per reports of Daily Express. This deal happened in lieu of the Tigers travelling to Pakistan for bilateral series.

India’s reluctance to tour Pakistan reason behind the decision

The PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani, while talking to reporters on Friday, had revealed that the Asia Cup will be hosted at a neutral venue with the Indian team’s refusal to play in Pakistan, though he had not named any venue. However, it seems Nazmul Hassan, who is currently the president of, both, the BCB and Asian Cricket Council (ACC), had assured PCB of convincing the Indian team to come to Bangladesh for Asia Cup if it was given the hosting rights.

The chairman of the PCB confirmed that Pakistan is still the host of the upcoming event while stating that he did not care about the statements made by the BCCI. Earlier BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had mentioned UAE as the potential venue for the tournament to be played in September. This statement made the BCB officials anxious and they made their concerns over coronavirus in Pakistan before the third-led of their tour.

But PCB has assured them that there is nothing to worry about as the Asia Cup will take place in Bangladesh — as per the aforementioned deal. The relations between the PCB and Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) are no longer affable, given that the Pakistan board revoked the NOC’s for its players for the T10 league, citing players’ workload.

A PCB spokesperson mentioned that no such deal has been struck between Pakistan and Bangladesh boards and the decision for the venue of the tournament will be taken during the ACC meeting, scheduled to take place later in March.