As if the buzz concerning the India-Pakistan clash in the forthcoming Asia Cup was any lesser, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has spiced it up by demanding a reschedule of the blockbuster contest.
As per a report published in CricketNext, the BCCI is unhappy with the fixture as Virat Kohli and company are scheduled to play against a qualifier side just one day before the high-octane encounter against Pakistan.
“The scheduling is mindless. There appears to be zero application of mind,” a senior BCCI official anonymously quoted as saying by CricketNext.
“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?”
“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,” he further added.
According to the recently released Asia Cup itinerary, Pakistan will take on a qualifier team on September 16 but they will get a two-day break to revitalize for the all-important tie against India.
On the other hand, India will play against a qualifier on September 18 and then take to the field very next day for the ultimate showdown against the arch-rivals
Asia Cup 2018 schedule:
Group Stage
15 September - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)
16 September - Pakistan vs Qualifier (Dubai)
17 September - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
18 September - India vs Qualifier (Dubai)
19 September - India vs Pakistan (Dubai)
20 September - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Super Four
21 September - Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
21 September - Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
23 September - Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
23 September - Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
25 September - Group A Winner vs Group B Winner (Dubai)
26 September - Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Final - 28 September (Dubai)