Asia Cup 2021 is scheduled at the same time as final of the ICC World Test championship.
The upcoming Asia Cup may be scrapped if BCCI goes ahead with a proposed plan to make up for the lost matches at home to satisfy the broadcasters. The 2021 edition of the Asia Cup is supposed to be hosted by Sri Lanka after Pakistan swapped the hosting duties.
The tournament, which was postponed last year because of the pandemic and the global lockdown, is once again in crisis. The tournament is scheduled at the same time, the final of the ICC World Test championship will be played in Lord’s ground in England.
Even if, India doesn’t make the Test Championship final, BCCI will reportedly plan bilateral series at home to give the broadcasters their money worth.
Potential series may see South Africa coming to India to play the white-ball series which was canceled in March last year because of the onset of COVID-19. Also in plans are to call New Zealand for a tour, which was scheduled in 2019, after the England series.
Also, there is a possibility of India hosting Sri Lanka in order to make up for the absence of a tournament like the Asia Cup and keep the broadcasters happy.
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"Further, the Asia Cup - even if it was scheduled - would've probably been played around the same time as the ICC Test Championship final. If India doesn't make the final, the industry would've preferred the Asia Cup instead.
Now, the chance of such a thing happening looks bleak so it's a kind of catch-22 right now," say those tracking developments.
The global battle surrounding the cricket calendar seems to be one between boards trying to retain their marquee bilateral commitments, while also ensuring their domestic circuits take proper root and prosper.
England board wants to launch the much-hyped The Hundred tournament which is supposed to be a game-changer for their fortunes.
"Australia and South Africa had initiated a battle for Boxing Day some years ago, which Cricket Australia clearly won. That battle may resume, who knows? India will fight to keep its October-November (Dussera-Diwali) window to play at home and ensure IPL gets a larger window (March added to the April-May). These are matters that'll test the efficacy of the upcoming FTP," say those in the know.
The only board which won’t be happy with Asia Cup not happening will be Pakistan Cricket Board, which had decided to the first host at a neutral venue (UAE) and later decided to share it with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Also, the broadcasters will not be happy with the Asia Cup not happening, or BCCI pulling out of the same, as the marquee India-Pakistan match(s) will not happen, robbing them of huge potential revenue.
(Times of India inputs)