Like other sports, the coronavirus pandemic has put a full-stop on cricket. There has been no international cricket since March. With the cases still on the rise, the BCCI has declared that Team India would not travel to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka for their scheduled tour.
The Asia Cup, originally scheduled to be held in September in Pakistan, now may take place in Sri Lanka, provided the situation stabilises in the subcontinent. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have offered Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to swap hosting years at an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting earlier this week. Sri Lanka had the hosting rights for the 2022 edition. With India being the defending champions, PCB hosting the tournament would have meant India backing out due to the tense relationship between the two nations. Also, Sri Lanka has the COVID-19 situation under considerable control.
It is doubtful that the tournament will go as planned due to the travel restrictions and logistical hurdles involved in hosting multi-team tournament. According to ESPNCricinfo, the ACC’s executive council has not approved the swap of host nations yet.
The last time Sri Lanka hosted the Asia Cup was in 2010. The previous edition of Asia Cup was played in 2018 when India trumped Bangladesh in the tournament final. First played in 1984, there have been 14 editions of the tournament with India winning it seven times. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have five and two titles respectively.
