Coronavirus: Asia Cup will not make way for IPL and 'must be held' if cricket resumes in time

PCB chairman dismisses idea that the tournament, which could be held in the UAE in September, might be sacrificed for the IPL

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani, pictured in 2018, has spoken of the economic importance of hosting the Asia Cup in September. AFP

The Asia Cup will not be cancelled to make way for the Indian Premier League, but it remains unclear whether it will go ahead at all – or if the UAE will be hosts.

Ehsan Mani, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said “we don’t know if it can be held or not” because of the situation related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in September, as a precursor to the T20 World Cup. Pakistan are officially the host board.

However, with India unwilling to tour Pakistan, it seems likely the tournament would take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi instead, just as it did when it was last played two years ago.

The suspension of all major sport globally because of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant the international cricket schedule is now unclear.

The UAE national team are due to play in the final qualifying event for the Asia Cup in Malaysia in August.

The winning side from that competition, which also involves Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong, are set to be the final entrant to the six-team Asia Cup.

That assumes the competition goes ahead, and Mani says that is far from certain, given the situation.

“It is important to have the Asia Cup if cricket activities resume by then because development of Asian cricket depends on funding from the tournament,” Mani said, in a PCB podcast.

“It is important for many countries who are members of the Asian Cricket Council. We don't know if it can be held or not. But if the conditions change and we can have the Asia Cup, it must be held as earnings from it are distributed as development funds to member countries for next two years.”

The IPL, which was due to start on March 29, has been delayed indefinitely.

An idea that has been mooted has been to drop the Asia Cup from the schedule, and stage the IPL at that time instead.

“I have read and heard this speculation, but right now just remember that having or not having the Asia Cup is not a decision between Pakistan and India. It involves other countries as well,” Mani said.