New Delhi: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday announced cancellation of the Asia Cup T20, which was scheduled to be held in September.
Pakistan had the hosting rights of the six-team continental event but it was expected to be held in the UAE. “Asia Cup cancel ho chuka hai, jo September me tha (Asia Cup, which was to be held in September, has been cancelled),” Ganguly told ‘sports tak’ in an instagram live session. The former India skipper did not specify the reason for the cancellation of the event but its conduct was shrouded in uncertainty amidst the coronavirus panedmic.
With T20 World Cup in October-November also unlikely to go ahead in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Asia Cup’s cancellation allows the BCCI to have a full-fledged IPL in the same window.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet made any announcement regarding the tournament’s cancellation. PCB CEO Wasim Khan had earlier said that they will object to any change in the dates of the Asia Cup to accommodate the cash-rich IPL.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) met last month to decide on the road ahead for the continental event but no decision was taken. India has the third largest load of coronavirus cases with more than 7.5 lakh infections reported so far. In the same show, former skipper was asked about when the Indian team will be seen in action next.
The Virat Kohli-led team last played in March. “It is tough to say now as no one knows when the virus situation improves. Our preparations are in place but we can only implement them on the ground. Stadiums are open but players are not going to train there because chances of getting infected are high,” said Ganguly.
“So, we can start when situation improves and we are not in a hurry. Players’ safety is paramount. It is tough when there is no cricket for five six months but it is a crisis. There is no target (for resumption), we are taking it day by day.” Takling about the IPL, Ganguly said that hosting the IPL in India remains BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s “first priority” and he is hoping that the cricket world will not have to endure a 2020 sans the glitzy event, despite his concerns around the rising COVID-19 cases.
The hugely-popular T20 league, which was scheduled to start on March 29, stands suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the former India captain said it is important for cricket to return to normalcy, any decision on the IPL can be taken only after the ICC decides on the fate of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November. “We don’t want the year 2020 to finish without an IPL. Our first priority is India and even if we get 35 to 40 days, we will host it. But we don’t know where…,” Ganguly said on India Today show ‘Inspiration’.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the UAE have offered to host the event in case there are logistical issues in India with the rapid rise in coronavirus cases. Organising the league overseas is an option but that would result in increased costs.
“I will put it in this order. Firstly, whether we can (have an IPL) within the time frame as IPL has limited window. “Secondly India. If it’s not possible then we are thinking of going out (abroad). But going out where…because if you go out it becomes expensive for everyone — franchises and board. “Because of conversion rate and currency exchange rate it becomes expensive. So we are monitoring but as I said we are very keen to host it and got our fingers crossed.”
The delay in taking a final call on the fate of the T20 World Cup is also keeping the BCCI bosses and other IPL stakeholders waiting. “We don’t know yet as we don’t have a decision from ICC regarding the T20 World Cup. We keep hearing different things from the media but unless it is officially told to Board members, you don’t know what’s happening,” he said. Only once in the 12-year history of the IPL has the entire tournament been shifted out of India.
In 2009, it was held in South Africa as the dates clashed with the general elections in the country. The BCCI boss, though, also hoped that the sport is back at the earliest. “See I want to have it as I said that cricket needs to be back. For us this is actually off season which has actually helped. (PTI)
