Asia Cup encounter between Pakistan, India likely to be rescheduled
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ISLAMABAD: The upcoming Asia Cup encounter between Pakistan and India on September 19 is likely to be rescheduled after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) demanded a change in the schedule.
The 14th edition of Asia Cup was already marred with controversy after the tournament was moved from India to the United Arab Emirates (USE) over Pakistan's refusal to cross the border.
The biennial event was due to be held in India in September however it was moved after protests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
However, the BCCI is now demanding the fixture date between the arch-rivals be changed.
According to the present schedule, India will play back to back matches on September 18 and 19 with the game against Pakistan taking place later at the Dubai International Stadium.
While speaking to Bangladesh Cricket Times a senior BCCI official said, “The scheduling is mindless. There appears to be zero application of mind.”
He added, “How can you accept a scenario where India plays a game today and tomorrow it will face its arch-rival Pakistan who will have a two-day period of rest?”
Furthermore, the unnamed official said, “This is unacceptable and has to be revisited. Maybe for the organisers it is just a money-spinning game but for us it is important that there be equity in scheduling.”
Earlier, former Indian cricketer, Virender Sehwag had also voiced criticism over the scheduling of the back to back matches.
"No one plays back to back matches now in one-day international (ODI) matches. It is wrong to have scheduled matches for India in such a manner,” he said
The 39-year-old also added, “To play two ODI matches without a break in Dubai’s hot weather is not correct scheduling.”
This years tournament will take place in the UAE at Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from September 15 to 28, with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh in the opening match.
The Cup has reverted back to its traditional 50-over ODI format this year after opting in 2016 for a T20 competition, which India won.
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