UAE may get to play Asia Cup this year itself

Faisalabad: The UAE are likely to get an opportunity to play in the Asia Cup this year. Efforts are currently on to stage the event this year itself even though it was deferred to next year by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Saleem Altaf, Director, Cricket Operations of the Pakistan Cricket Board, revealed that he had received a letter from ACC chief executive Ashraful Haq to check whether Pakistan could stage the event this September.

The Asia Cup was supposed to be held at the end of the India-Pakistan series but it was shifted owing to India's tight schedule. India is scheduled to host England immediately after their return from Pakistan.

The new proposal has emerged from Haq as Pakistan will be free during September. Pakistan was supposed to host Zimbabwe but the series has been cancelled following Zimbabwe's decision not to play in any Test matches until the 2007 World Cup due to domestic problems.

If the event is shifted to next year, the UAE may have to qualify again by playing in the ACC Trophy.

Whether the Asia Cup is held this year or not also depends on India's willingness to play in the tournament. With Sharad Pawar having taken over as the President of the ACC, the decision rests with him.

Pakistan has also planned to play in a triangular series involving the West Indies and Zimbabwe in November. The West Indies team is scheduled to tour Pakistan to play three Test and five one-dayers. In their preparations to host the Asia Cup, the PCB has already collected money from the sponsors and broadcasters and are keen to go ahead with the event. It is understood that they have requested Pawar to agree to the event during his visit to Lahore.