Sourav Ganguly’s claims of Asia Cup being cancelled have no merit: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected reports of Asia Cup being cancelled after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly claimed this year’s tournament had been called off.

“Saurav Ganguly’s statement regarding the Asia Cup 2020 that it stands cancelled has no merit,” PCB’s media director Samiul Hasan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. “It is up to the Asian Cricket Council to decide on the fate of the tournament.”

“The statements made by Sourav Ganguly have no impact on proceedings. Even if he passes comments every week, they do not hold weight or merit,” Hasan asserted.

Ganguly on Wednesday had announced the cancellation of Asia Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic during an interview with Sports Tak.

"In December, we have the first full series. Asia Cup 2020 has been called-off which was scheduled to take place in September," Ganguly said.

Asia Cup 2020 is slated to be hosted by Pakistan in September but the current situations following the pandemic outbreak along with India's unwillingness saw the PCB to reportedly agree to swap their Asia Cup hosting rights with Sri Lanka.

The PCB and the BCCI have been at odds regarding the scheduling aspect of the Asia Cup.

Due to the constant tensions between the two neighbouring countries, the BCCI had requested the PCB to change the venue, or conduct India’s matches outside of Pakistan due to security concerns, preferably in the UAE.

Earlier this year, PCB chairman Ehsan Mani had turned down Ganguly’s claims of Asia Cup taking place in UAE.