Team India may not participate in Asia Cup 2021 which was rescheduled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
India may not play in Asia Cup 2021
The Asia Cup was supposed to be played in 2020 in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup but it had to be postponed after India decided to go ahead with the Indian Premier League. Pakistan, who will host the tournament in a different country, however, are going to suffer another hurdle with India is all set to once again turn its back once again.
“Further, the Asia Cup – even if it was scheduled – would’ve probably been played around the same time as the ICC Test Championship final. If India don’t make the final, the industry would’ve preferred the Asia Cup instead. Now, chance of such a thing happening look bleak so it’s a kind of catch-22 right now,” say those tracking developments.
India set to host SA and NZ
The BCCI wants to host South Africa and New Zealand post the England series in August-September as a preparation for the home T20 World Cup. There is a possibility of India hosting Sri Lanka to make up for the absence of a tournament like the Asia Cup but that will spell doom for Pakistan.
“Australia and South Africa had initiated a battle for Boxing Day some years ago, which Cricket Australia clearly won. That battle may resume, who knows? India will fight to keep its October-November (Dussera-Diwali) window to play at home and ensure IPL gets a larger window (March added to the April-May). These are matters that’ll test the efficacy of the upcoming FTP,” say those in the know.
In the meantime, the Asia Cup not happening is likely to upset the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) more than any other country. The 2019 edition of the tournament was PCB’s to host, which the Ehsan Mani-led board had decided to first host at a neutral venue (UAE) and later decided to share it with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
“We’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out,” sources add.
