*DUBAI: *The 2018 Asia Cup has been shifted to the United Arab Emirates(UAE) as Pakistan refused to go to India mainly due to political tensionsbetween both countries.

According to *Cricinfo*link>,the UAE have been awarded the 2018 Asia Cup that was originally slated tobe held in India. The tournament is likely to be played between September13 and 28.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan has been cited as the reasonfor the change. “The ACC deliberated on the matter and decided that thiswas the best way forward,” Asian Cricket Council and PCB chairman NajamSethi told ESPNcricinfo.

In addition, the 2018 Emerging Teams’ Asia Cup will be co-hosted byPakistan and Sri Lanka. Originally slated for April, the tournament hasbeen moved to December. Pakistan will also play host to the next ACC AnnualGeneral Meeting, which will be held later this year.

This year’s Asia Cup will feature Full Members India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The sixth team will be determined via aplayoff that includes UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, and Oman.

This will be the 14th edition of the Asia Cup. The first 12 were staged asODI competitions, while the previous Asia Cup in 2016 was the first to beheld as a T20I event, effectively as a warm-up event ahead of the WorldT20. India is the defending champions, having beaten Bangladesh in thefinal two years ago.