Asia Cup 2018 shifted out of India; UAE to host 6-team event

India was supposed to host the 2018 Asia Cup, but now has lost the rights to stage the multi-team event after its reluctance to host Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have had disputes in the last few years after India denied to abide by the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed back in 2014 to play bilateral series with the neighbouring country. However, owing to the political tension between the two nations, India have not been given permission by the central government to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan.  

At the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, the decision was taken to shift the tournament out of India and UAE was chosen as the venue for the six-team event. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are the five teams which have direct qualification while UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal and Oman will play a qualifying playoff. 

“The ACC deliberated on the matter (of the venue) and decided that this was the best way forward, Asian Cricket Council and PCB chairman, Najam Sethi was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo.

This year’s Asia Cup will be the 14th edition of the tournament and that will be played between September 13 and 28. The Emerging Nations Asia Cup will now be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the tournament has been rescheduled from April to December.