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| Bangladesh may miss Asia Cup |
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Sunday, October 04, 2009
From Abdul Mohi Shah
JOHANNESBURG: Bangladesh will not be able to compete in the forthcoming Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia early next summer as the England and Wales Cricket Board refused to alter dates in the wake of a heavy English summer.
A well-placed source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed to ‘The News’ that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to go ahead with the Asia Cup even if Bangladesh stays away from the tournament.
According to an earlier finalised itinerary, Bangladesh is scheduled to reach England as early as in the first week of May to play Test and one-day series. It is during the period of March to May during which the Asia Cup has been scheduled.
“The Bangladesh Board is making all out efforts to delay the start of the England tour so that they are able to compete in the Asia Cup. However, so far there has been no luck for them as the ECB has refused to accommodate them, saying that the summer is too hectic to even think of making changes in the schedule,” the source confirmed.
Before the tour of England, Bangladesh will host the England team from February to March. “All out efforts to adjust the Asia Cup in March has also not met any success, meaning that if we decide to host the Asia Cup in March, Bangladesh would not be able to compete in the event. England has refused to alter the dates of their trip to Bangladesh even, making it difficult for the team to compete in the Asia Cup,” the source said.
The ACC is considering the option to go ahead with the planned Asia Cup even if Bangladesh fails to comply with the schedule. “Even if Bangladesh stays away from the Cup we would arrange it in Malaysia next year. It would be too busy a schedule during the next year and if we fail to organise the Cup from March to May next year, the ACC may not be able to host the event at all. So we have decided to go ahead with the plan to host the event early next summer even if Bangladesh fails to participate. In absence of Bangladesh, however we would have to alter the fixtures and format of the competition.”
Pakistan is also scheduled to visit England next summer, not only to compete in the Test and one-day series against the host nation but also to play a Test series against Australia. The matches against Australia are set to be played at Lord’s and Healingly (Leeds).
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ISSN 1563-9479 
