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After the white-ball bilateral series against Bangladesh was postponed, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has initiated conversations with multiple cricket boards to hold a bilateral series in the ‘suddenly found window’.
Sri Lankan media reported that talks are currently ongoing regarding a limited-overs series in mid-August. However, Sportstar understands that the BCCI is in conversation with a few other boards, including England, to figure out the possibility of conducting a series in the same window.
However, the Board is yet to decide on whether to settle for a bilateral series or conduct a tri-nation tournament at a neutral venue.
“There have generally been discussions with a few cricket boards, but it would all depend on the government’s decision on the Asia Cup,” say those tracking developments.
The biggest threat to the Asia Cup is the worsening relationship between India and Pakistan following border tensions earlier this year. However, with the Indian government recently granting clearance for the Pakistan hockey team to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup in Rajgir and the FIH men’s Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu, the BCCI awaits a formal decision.
If the Asia Cup takes place in the UAE, the BCCI might have to settle for a bilateral series in August. “Now with no Bangladesh series, there is a long gap and the BCCI wants to ensure that the players have game time, and that’s why a new limited-overs series is being explored,” the source indicated.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to decide on the future of the Asia Cup during its meeting in Dhaka on July 24. However, given the prevailing political tensions in Bangladesh – which was also one of the reasons behind the postponement of the series – it is uncertain whether the BCCI will send its officials to Dhaka for the meeting or requests for a change in venue.
Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar are the BCCI’s representatives in the ACC. Shukla, the BCCI vice-president and Congress Rajya Sabha MP, is in the Board of Directors, and Shelar, former treasurer of the BCCI, is an Executive Board Member of the continental body.
