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The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), at its development body meeting, held in Abu Dhabi this week, has decided that the next Asia Cup tournament should be hosted by Pakistan around April 2008.

According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, although the Asia Cup was in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled to be held in late 2008 but now the ACC had decided that it should be organised in April.

“This is because Pakistan would also be hosting the 2008 Champions Trophy around September-October. So it would be better if the Asia Cup is held well in advance,” he said.

Pakistan was due to host the Asia Cup in February this year but postponed the event on the request of the new set-up of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headed by Sharad Pawar who said his players needed a rest period after touring Pakistan and before playing against England at home.

The last time the jinxed Asia Cup was held was in Sri Lanka in June-July 2004.

The PCB official also stated the ACC meeting had decided to revive the Afro-Asia Cup series from next year with matches slated to be held in Africa around October.

The Pawar-led BCCI had, soon after taking charge, announced the Afro-Asia Cup would not be held anymore due to the tight international calendar.

Sources said the BCCI had to change its mind after it learnt that a company had already purchased TV rights for three Afro-Asia Cup events and also made an advance payment to the ACC.

Source:The News

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