ACC confirms UAE as host nation; India likely to play all matches in Dubai
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to host the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, with a formal announcement expected soon. According to sources in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), all participating nations are aligned on the decision, and India is expected to play all its fixtures in Dubai, reported thehindu.com.
The confirmation comes after a recent ACC meeting attended by all 25 member nations, either in person or virtually. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla represented India virtually during the deliberations. While scheduling details are still being finalised, the tournament is expected to take place over a little more than two weeks in September and will conclude before the Indian Test series against the West Indies begins later that month.
With the UAE confirmed as the host, cricket fans are eagerly anticipating a high-voltage India-Pakistan showdown in Dubai this September
Despite the excitement, ACC and BCCI officials remain tight-lipped about the full schedule. “Our vice-president Rajeev Shukla ji attended the ACC meeting. He will brief the members. I don’t believe in speculations, so you will get to know officially in a few days,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka, ACC chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi echoed a similar sentiment, indicating that final touches are still being put on the arrangements. “We will announce it shortly. We have had discussions with the BCCI and there are a few issues that we will resolve soon,” Naqvi told reporters.
Interestingly, only two out of ten agenda items were discussed at the meeting, reportedly due to BCCI’s influence on proceedings. Yet, there appears to be consensus among the member nations about moving forward with the UAE as the host country.
With tensions and expectations high, the India-Pakistan fixture is likely to be the marquee event of the Asia Cup, and cricket fans worldwide are already counting down the days.
