Asia Cup 2022: The competition, which is scheduled to take place between August 27 and September 11, will continue to be officially hosted by SLC.
Even though Sri Lanka hosted an entire tour of Australia without incident and is presently hosting a Test series against Pakistan without any big problems, the 2022 Asia Cup may be moved from the country. The Asia Cup will still be hosted by Sri Lanka Cricket, but ESPNcricinfo has discovered that the matches will take place in Dubai and Sharjah from August 27 to September 11. The decision was made this week at a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is still concerned about the severe fuel shortage that has been a major factor in bringing Sri Lanka to a standstill.
Despite the nation’s worsening economic and political problems, Sri Lanka Cricket remained “quite optimistic” about hosting the Asia Cup until last week. Enraged protesters broke into the homes of Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister, demanding reform, as food supplies were running low, private automobiles could no longer get fuel, and there were major daily power shortages. However, the demonstrations had no effect on cricket, as Australia finished a full tour that featured two Tests, five ODIs, and three T20Is while in the country for the majority of June and a small portion of July. Currently, Pakistan is in Galle for a two-match Test series.
Holding a competition like the Asia Cup, which will this time be played in the T20 format and include as many as nine countries, is significantly different from hosting bilateral series.
SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo on Sunday that hosting two teams was not the same as hosting ten teams. “You must supply enough fuel for all ten buses. Every team must receive a luggage van with fuel and a vehicle for the management. Additionally, you must provide transportation for the sponsors and guarantee that they receive the mileage they require for their sponsorship. It will also be necessary to locate the gasoline for the generators that power the floodlights.”
On July 22, the ACC is scheduled to release the Asia Cup schedule, and it is anticipated that India and Pakistan will play each other twice during the league phase. Thousands of fans from both countries would typically have flown to Sri Lanka for the match, but da Silva believed the political upheaval and petrol crisis would act as a significant deterrent.
There are two India against. Pakistan matchups as well, and fans will want to travel to see those games. The circumstances can make people hesitant to visit Sri Lanka.” Said de Silva.
SLC will not lose any money because ACC will cover the Asia Cup’s operational expenses, but de Silva acknowledged that Sri Lanka’s local economy would suffer because hotels and transportation companies would not benefit.
The majority of the Indian subcontinent is covered by the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. This left the ACC with few options for backup locations. The UAE has shown to be a successful site in terms of infrastructure and mobility, but late August and early September are often marked by extreme heat, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40°C and high humidity. The fights might therefore start in the early evening.
UAE will host the Asia Cup for the second time in the last five years. The 50-over competition was held in 2018 between September 15 and 28 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Disclaimer: The insights expressed in this article are those of the author. This article was not written or edited by Empireweekly.com; it was published on July 18, 2022.
