Asia Cup schedule on hold: Media, sponsorship rights yet to be finalized

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has yet to finalize the details of the Asia Cup, primarily due to pending discussions on media and sponsorship rights. Although the tournament is likely to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September, with India hosting it, the official announcement remains pending until these key issues are resolved.

"After finalizing media rights and sponsorship rights the Asia Cup schedule will be officially announced," a source, who attended the ACC general council meeting in Dhaka on Thursday, told Nukta in a brief interaction on Friday.

In the event, eight nations including hosts India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong will be showcasing their worth. Teams will be bracketed in two different pools.

The event will be held inside two weeks and there are also reports that India and Pakistan may be placed in a single group.

On Thursday, the ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi said that the details will be announced soon after various matters will be resolved.

“We are currently in consultation with the BCCI regarding the Asia Cup. Discussions are progressing well and we hope to resolve the matter shortly. An official announcement will be made soon,” Naqvi told reporters in Dhaka following the meeting.

Following uncertainties over whether BCCI will attend the meeting, the ACC got a huge breakthrough as all 25 members attended the meeting, both virtually and physically.

This was the first time that such a high-level meeting was hosted by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and also in a pressure situation.

Meanwhile Indian media is busy criticizing BCCI for its U-turn relating to its hosting of the continental T20 showpiece.

On various television channels BCCI is under fire and media is of the opinion that BCCI should have boycotted the event and should not play against Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident.

Pakistan team had started preparation for the Asia Cup with the series against Bangladesh at home which the Green-shirts won 3-0 at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

However, in the recently-concluded series against the same opposition held at Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, Mike Hesson’s charges fell 1-2 despite their win in the last game on Thursday. Pakistan’s batting had miserably failed in the first two games which raised many eyebrows.

Pakistan’s next deployment will be at the US where the Green-shirts will play three T20I matches against the West Indies. The matches will be held at Lauderhill on July 31, August 2 and August 3.

Pakistan will then go to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series under skipper Mohammad Rizwan. They will play their matches in Tarouba on August 8, 10 and 12.

After that Pakistan also will feature in a tri-nation series in the UAE involving Afghanistan and UAE to give finishing touches to their Asia Cup preparations.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson is hopeful of a building a good T20 side.

“Currently sitting 8th in the world we need to create depth and competition for places as well as play a style of cricket that can give us more consistency over time, especially at key event like Asia Cup and World Cups,” Mike wrote on X.

“First 6 games on two contrasting pitches gave us key insights. A young batting group shone with 200+ scores early. Mirpur which is the lowest scoring venue in T20I’s certainly tested our adaptability and after struggling early we fought back and showed an ability to learn with experience,” he said.

“New players stepped up, showing promise and in some instances excelling. Specialist Coaches have played a key role in developing bowlers both here and at the NCA. Fielding was a huge step up in last two matches and were starting to look like an international fielding side. Onwards.”