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Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis in four decades which has also caused political unrest in the country. And as it seems, this may also pose a big threat to the organizing of the Asia Cup 2022, scheduled for August-September this year. Although the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was determined to organize the Asia Cup there, it looks off the table for now.

Things have changed dramatically in the Island nation after protestors took over the Rashtrapati Bhavan last week, set Prime Minister Wickremesinghe's private residence on fire and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned. The effect of the political unrest in the country was also seen during the second Test at Galle between Sri Lanka and Australia when protestors gathered outside the stadium.

Amid the unusual situation in the country, the Asia Cup can now be moved to Bangladesh, Dainik Jagran reported. The newspaper quoted a source privy to development as saying “Which team would like to go there. How can you send your team where the protesters are sitting in the occupied Rashtrapati Bhavan? I don't see any possibility of organizing the Asia Cup there. Bangladesh has also expressed its desire to host the Asia Cup and as expected, the tournament will now be held there.”

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket board is also keeping a track of the developments in the neighboring country and will take action accordingly. A top BCCI official has said that the Asia Cup to be held in the T20 format is an important tournament for India in the prospect of the T20 World Cup being held in Australia this year and sending its top players in such a situation is not a good idea.

“In such a situation, we cannot even send a second-class team there. Almost the same team will play there which will represent India in Australia. In such a situation, sending the Indian team to Sri Lanka does not seem possible. It is not possible for the Indian team to go to Pakistan and the arrival of the Pakistan team in India is also not possible. It can be organized in Bangladesh,” said the BCCI official.

Notably, the Asia Cup was scheduled to be held in September 2020, with India entering the competition as defending champions. But the tournament was pushed back in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After this, it was decided to organize the continental tournament in June 2021 and later in August-September this year.