PCB Chief Ehsan Mani Hints At Shift In Pakistan's Stand On Hosting Asia Cup

Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani said on Wednesday that the country may be ready to give up the hosting rights of the Asia Cup T20 tournament which is slated to be held in September 2020. "We have to ensure that earnings of the associate members are not affected. It is not so much about the full members, but about the associate members," Mani said in a press conference during the trophy launch for the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Asian Cricket Council meets in March where the issue over the venue will be finalised. Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had stated that while Pakistan is free to host the Asia Cup, it won't be ready to send the Indian team to the country for the tournament. "The question isn't about the PCB hosting the tournament. It is about the venue and as things stand now, it is quite clear that we would need a neutral venue. There is no way that an Indian team can visit Pakistan to even participate in a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup. "If the ACC is ok with an Asia Cup minus India, then it is a different ball game. But if India are to participate in the Asia Cup, the venue cannot be Pakistan," a BCCI source had told IANS.