Reports: Sourav Ganguly sends 4 Indian players' names including Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan for Asia XI vs World XI fixtures

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is all set to stage two Asia XI vs World XI fixtures in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Two matches will be played at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on March 18 and 21. The anticipation regarding which players will be donning the Asia XI and World XI jerseys is building up with every passing day.

Amid the dilemma about which Indian players will be a part of Asia XI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has sent names of four Indian stalwarts– Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The sources in the know of developments revealed that Ganguly has sent the names of these four players to BCB after checking their availability.

“Ganguly sent in the names to the BCB after we checked on the availability of the players. Kohli, Shami, Dhawan and Kuldeep will represent us in the Asia XI team. It has been a while since we sent the names because the Bangladesh board needed the list from BCCI to be able to prepare the Asian squad,” the source revealed as quoted by the Times of India.

However, it will be interesting to see the above four players being incorporated into Asia XI side as the first fixture of Asia XI vs World XI is going to clash with India’s final ODI against South Africa. But there is a possibility that these four players might don the Asia XI jersey in the subsequent fixture that is slated to take place on March 21.

Pakistan players won’t be a part of Asia XI due to PSL 2020

Earlier, there was uncertainty regarding the participation of Pakistani players in the Asia XI as the cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have taken a toll in recent times. However, BCCI joint secretary Jayesh George had cleared the air stating that no Pakistan players were invited for the match.

PCB, on the other hand, had stated that the participation of Pakistan players was not connected with BCB giving preference to BCCI over PCB. Pakistan players were unable to be a part of Asia XI due to their busy schedule in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“The T20Is between World XI and Asia XI were scheduled from March 16-20, while the PSL 2020 is likely to end on March 22. Since dates of both the series couldn’t be changed, we offered our regrets to the BCB, both verbally and in writing, which they understood and accepted,” a PCB spokesperson had clarified.

“It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers,” he had added.

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