Indian team members pose for a group photograph after India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the finals of the Asia Cup cricket match in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 24, 2010. -Photo by AP

KARACHI: Bangladesh has been awarded the rights to host the 2012 Asia Cup after an executive committee meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dhaka, said an announcement on Monday.

The tournament will be held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur from March 1 to March 12.

Bangladesh hosted the Asia Cup last time in 2000.

“We are thrilled that the 11th Asia Cup will be held in Bangladesh,” Syed Ashraful Huq, CEO of the ACC, said in his comments.

The continental event will involve Asia's four Test-playing nations  India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“We are endeavouring to increase the number of participating countries in future events,” an ACC spokesman said.

China was one of the contenders for hosting the tournament but was ignored due to lack of cricketing infrastructure.

“There are no floodlights, that are required, as all the matches (in the Asia Cup) have to be day and night games,” Huq said.—APP