There is absolutely no clarity about the Asia Cup that is expected to be played in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Asia Cup was earlier scheduled to be played last year however because of the Coronavirus pandemic. As per the latest reports, the event might be held in Sri Lanka in late June.
It was a couple of days back when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani had claimed that Asia Cup 2021 might get postponed to 2023 if team India qualifies for the World Test Championship’s final. Now that team India has qualified for the final, which will take place between India and New Zealand from June 18 to 22 while the Asia Cup is also scheduled to begin in the last week of June.
As per the latest report by the Times Of India, the BCCI might send a second-string team to the Asia Cup. Top sources were quoted as below by the TOI:
“There’s no other choice. We can’t risk the preparation for the series in England. And cricketers can’t twice undergo quarantine. If the Asia Cup happens, India will have no option but to send a second-string squad,”
A second-string side means the team without the services of main players including Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and other names.
Furthermore, the report also stated that Virat Kohli-led team India will travel to England in the first week of June soon after the completion of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League on May 30. The team will then have to serve a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in England.
