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With clouds of uncertainty hovering over the venue for the 2022 Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Thursday confirmed that the continental tournament will be held in the UAE instead of Sri Lanka. Ganguly confirmed the news after the conclusion of BCCI’s Apex Council meeting in Mumbai.
"Asia Cup will be in UAE, as it is the only place where there won't be rains," Ganguly told reporters after the Board's Apex Council meeting. Notably, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday had informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the board will not be in a position to host the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup T20 because of the economic and political crisis in the country.
The Island nation is going through the worst economic crisis in four decades as everything seems to be falling apart. Country's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had to swear in as the new President with Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigning from his post.
Cricket in the country is also affected by this economic and political unrest in the country. The second Test of the ongoing Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had to be shifted from Colombo to Galle with heavy protest erupting in Colombo. The Sri Lanka Cricket also announced the postponement of its T20 league, Lanka Premier League with official Right Holders denying to host the tournament.
In such a situation, hosting a multi-team tournament was always going to be a massive challenge for the Sri Lankan cricket board. Reports had also emerged that the continental tournament can be moved to Bangladesh. But with the onset of monsoon in the country, the organizers seem to have decided against it. The UAE looks like a perfect venue with little threats of rain.
Notably, Asia Cup is slated to be held from August 27 to September 11 and will be played in the T20 format. It is being seen as a preparatory tournament for the T20 World Cup in Australia.