Asia Cup 2020 postponed till June 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic: ACC

Asia Cup 2020 scheduled in September 2020 has been postponed till June 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, ACC said, “The Executive Board of the ACC has met on multiple occasions to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Asia Cup tournament scheduled in September 2020.”

“From the onset, the Board was keen on organising the tournament as per the original schedule. 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.,” the statement added.

ACC is planning to host the tournament in June 2021 and working towards securing June 2021.

“The Board, after careful consideration of all the above factors, has determined that the Asia Cup 2020 be postponed. Responsibly conducting the event remains the priority of the ACC, and the Board hopes that the tournament will be held in 2021. The ACC is working towards securing June 2021 as a suitable window for the same,” the statement read.

Asia Cup 2021 will be hosted in Sri Lanka as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have exchanged hosting rights will Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). While PCB will host the Asia Cup 2022.

“We may also note it that the hosts for the Asia Cup 2020, PCB has exchanged hosting rights for the tournament with SLC. Through this arrangement, the SLC will now host the rescheduled Asia Cup expected in June 2021, while the PCB will host the Asia Cup 2022,” the statement said.