Reports: Pakistan to not host Asia Cup 2020 after India refuse to tour the country

India’s participation in Asia Cup this year was always going to be suspect if Pakistan ended up hosting the tournament — to be played in the T20 format this time. And as per reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed its refusal to visit Pakistan for the tournament and this has raised a question mark over Pakistan’s very hosting rights. They have got the chance of hosting a multilateral tournament after a long time since poor safety records at home left them sidelined for over a decade.

The reports have suggested that a call for the change of the tournament’s venue will be taken next month. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai and even Australia could be picked as the alternative venue to host the tournament that will feature six teams. The tournament is scheduled to begin a month before the start of the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.

This is only the second time that the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format (depending on the next World Cup) and India had won the title the last time it was played in the same format in Bangladesh in 2016.

Even Australia a probable host for Asia Cup?

“There was a discussion regarding the Asia Cup venue on the sideline of the meeting. Pakistan is the host of the tournament but they may not host it as India will not tour Pakistan. There will be a discussion about the venue in Feb, Nazm Uddin President BCB told reporters,” a tweet from a noted Pakistani sports journalist read.

The last edition of the Asia Cup was played in September 2018 in the UAE and India emerged champions by beating Bangladesh by three wickets in a nail-biting final. It was India’s seventh crown, two more than the second-best — Sri Lanka. Pakistan have won the Asia Cup only twice. India were led by Rohit Sharma in that tournament as Virat Kohli was rested and Mahendra Singh Dhoni also captained the Men in Blue in one game.

Sri Lanka recently toured Pakistan for series across all formats in two phases. Bangladesh are set to tour the country starting later this month although its players have shown reluctance over touring Pakistan for security reasons.

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