MUMBAI: Fears are growing that the upcoming Asia Cup, the Asian Cricket Council’s flagship event, will be moved out of Sri Lanka.
While it was India’s turn to host the event, upon a request made by Sri Lanka Cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had agreed for the event to be staged in the Emerald Isles.
Now local Sri Lankan media is reporting that the BCCI has raised concerns with its SLC counterparts over the tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted in Colombo and Kandy.
“BCCI has raised concerns about civil unrest in the country and if the tournament is interrupted, we would lose a sum to the tune of $6 million. However, we indicated that protests around the country against the government have been peaceful and the tournament can be played without any issues,” an official told Sri Lanka's The Island.
Although the protests have been peaceful so far, Tuesday’s brutal police shooting in Rambukkana resulted in a fatality and several injured. The protesters who are camping outside Presidential Secretariat in Galle Face are in no mood to vacate with the ever rising cost of living. The common man has been hit hard with fuel prices sky rocketing resulting in all other prices going up. There’s also a severe shortage of fuel and gas while the Sri Lankan Rupee has hit an all time low. Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst worst economic crisis since its independence.
A per The Island, a final decision on whether to shift the tournament will be discussed on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League final, for which SLC officials have been invited. Dubai is the alternate venue as the BCCI cannot host the event as Pakistan are unable to travel to India.
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