2020 Asia Cup cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

Sri Lanka will now host next year’s competition, with Pakistan instead staging the 2022 event

This year’s Asia Cup T20, which had been scheduled to take place in September, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pakistan had initially been due to host the competition but offered to swap their hosting rights with Sri Lanka at a recent meeting of the Asian Cricket Council.

However, it has now been confirmed that the six-team tournament will not be held this year because of Covid-19.

“From the onset, the board was keen on organising the tournament as per the original schedule,” an ACC statement explained.

“However, travel restrictions, country-specific quarantine requirements, fundamental health risks and social distancing mandates have posed as substantial challenges to the holding of the Asia Cup.

“Above all, the risks related to health and safety of participating players, support staff, commercial partners, fans and the cricketing community were deemed to be significant.

“Accordingly, the board, after careful consideration of all the above factors, has determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be postponed. Conducting the event in a responsible manner remains the priority of the ACC and the Board is hopeful that the tournament will be held in 2021. The ACC is currently working towards securing June 2021 as a suitable window for the same.”

Sri Lanka will now host next year’s competition, with Pakistan instead staging the 2022 event.

BCCI president and Sourav Ganguly and PCB chief Ehsan Mani had both hinted at this outcome in the days ahead of the decision.

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