The Asia Cup 2021 is expected to be held in June later this year. The tournament was supposed to be held last year but postponed due to COVID-19, which disrupted the entire cricket calendar. The tournament might now be held in Sri Lanka. It is believed that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is now proposing for the Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, this being a packed year with various international commitments for Team India, they might send a second-string squad for the tournament. This also means that the regulars in the Indian squad might be given a break during that tournament.
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BCCI Likely To Send Second String Squad For Asia Cup 2021
India have the World T20 followed by a trip to England later this year, which is why the senior Indian players might be rested for those important. Thus the BCCI has no choice but to send their second-best squad for the tournament in Sri Lanka.
It is also learnt that top officials of BCCI have been locked in a meeting with the ACC to confirm the window and the whole tournament. If the Asia Cup goes ahead in late June, Team India is likely to lose Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, will be busy preparing for the five Tests versus England after the WTC final.
“There’s no other choice. We can’t risk the preparation for the series in England. And cricketers can’t twice undergo quarantine. If the Asia Cup happens, India will have no option but to send a second-string squad,” top sources confirmed as per a report in TOI.
The last edition of the Asia Cup was held in early 2016 which saw the MS Dhoni-led India become the first-ever Asian side to win the tournament both in ODI and T20I format.
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