July 14, 2022 media 0

Sanath Jayasuriya Confident That Asia Cup 2022 Will Be Held On Schedule In Sri Lanka

[ad_1]

Sanath Jayasuriya, the legendary Sri Lankan batter feels the schedule for Asia Cup 2022 is under no threat, despite Sri Lanka finds itself in a grave economic situation. The multi-team tournament is to take place from August 27 to September 11.

The economic turmoil Sri Lanka is going through continues to get worsen. With protests taking place all across the country, the political leaders are fleeing to different nations. Amid such a chaotic situation in the island nation, many have raised over the country’s ability to organize the Asia Cup next month.

The upcoming tournament is the fifteenth edition of the continental championship. The tournament has not been held since 2018 due to the pandemic. The 2018 edition took place in the UAE when India beat Bangladesh in the final to lift the title.

India is the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup. They have won the tournament seven times. They are followed by Sri Lanka which has won the title five times. Apart from India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan (2) is the only other team who have won the Asia Cup.

India Winners Of Asia Cup 2018 (Credits: Twitter)

Sanath Jayasuriya Is Confident That Asia Cup Will Happen

The multi-team tournament, which is to be held from August 27 to September 11, is seeing dark clouds looming large over its schedule. However, Sri Lanka cricket great Sanath Jayasuriya is confident of the Asia Cup taking place.

“I am very confident that Asia Cup will happen and there is no threat to the tournament. In Sri Lanka, everyone loves cricket and the cricketers from every nation. The Sri Lankan public has absolutely nothing against any cricketer. There will be all necessary support to hold the tournament peacefully,” Sanath Jayasuriya was quoted as saying.

Sanath Jayasuriya is confident of Asia Cup being held in Sri Lanka Photo : PTI — Sanath Jayasuriya is confident of Asia Cup being held in Sri Lanka Photo: PTI

The ongoing Sri Lanka protest has cast a major cloud over the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 which was set to be hosted by the Island nation in August. Sri Lanka recently hosted the Australia men’s team for the all-format series, while the host nation’s Women’s cricket team played white ball series against the Indian Women’s cricket team.

ACC Is Monitoring The Situation In Sri Lanka

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) hasn’t taken a call over the possibility of rescheduling the Asia Cup. The governing body has decided to reassess the situation later this month before deciding if Sri Lanka is in a state to organize the tournament or not. With the situation in Sri Lanka not too good, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has asked Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to be on standby to host Asia Cup T20 Cricket from August 27th.

“The ACC is monitoring the situation and will make a decision in its meeting later this month, keeping all factors in mind,” a source said on the matter.

It isn’t the first time that the fate of the Asia Cup has come under question. The tournament has been getting rescheduled since 2020. Firstly, it was the Covid-19 pandemic that saw it getting suspended. The tournament didn’t take place in 2021 either due to Covid-19 and schedule congestion.

Now, it’s Sri Lanka’s economic situation that is seeing the fate of the Asia Cup this year hanging in balance. Only the coming weeks would suggest if there’s the hope of a timely recovery for the tournament to take place or not.

The multi-nation tournament will see six teams take part in the event with Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka occupying the five spots, leaving four teams to battle out for the remaining one. Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, and Kuwait will lock horns against each other in the qualifiers of the competition to secure a spot in the main event.

[ad_2]

Source link