ISLAMABAD: The Asia Cup cricket tournament, which would likely see Pakistan and India facing each other twice in the event’s league phase, was expected to be shifted out from Sri Lanka, to Dubai and Sharjah.

Very recently, Sri Lanka successfully hosted a full tour of Australia and is currently hosting a Test series against Pakistan in Galle without any major hassles.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) would remain the official host of the Asia Cup which this time will be played in the T20 format. But the 15th edition of the continental event was set to be played in Dubai and Sharjah from Aug 27 and Sept 11. The decision was taken at an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting this week.

Up until last week, SLC was “very confident” of hosting the Asia Cup despite the country’s deepening economic and political crisis with food supplies drying up, fuel supply being cut to private vehicles, and severe daily power outages.

“Hosting two teams is not the same as hosting ten teams,” ESPNcricinfo quoted SLC chief executive officer Ashley de Silva as saying.

“You have to provide ten buses with fuel for all of them. You have to give every team a luggage van with fuel, and transport for the managers. You also have to give the sponsors transport and ensure that they are getting the mileage that they want from their sponsorship. The fuel for the generators to run the floodlights will also have to be found,” de Silva said.

The ACC was set to announce the schedule of the Asia Cup on July 22 and it would likely have Pakistan and India facing each other twice in the league phase.

“There are also two India vs Pakistan matches, and there will be people who want to travel and watch those matches. People might not be happy to travel to Sri Lanka because of the situation,” he added.

This would be the second time in the last five years that the UAE will host the Asia Cup. In 2018, the tournament, played in the 50-overs format, was conducted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in September.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022