The path was paved finally for the UAE to play host to the upcoming Asia Cup as BCCI formally handed over the hosting rights to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Emirates Cricket Board signed an agreement today for the United Arab Emirates to host the 2018 edition of the Asia Cup,” the BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary stated in a press release.
“We are thankful to the Emirates Cricket Board for hosting the 2018 Asia Cup on behalf of the BCCI. We will see some of the sport’s powerhouse nations go head-to-head for ultimate glory.
“And I am confident that cricket fans around the world will enjoy every moment of this prestigious event.”
The agreement was signed in Dubai with the BCCI being represented by its acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and chief executive Rahul Johri. Emirates Cricket Board chairman and His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan signed the agreement on behalf of the UAE.
India and Pakistan will clash on September 19 at Dubai.
The 50-over tournament was originally slated to be held in India but was shifted to the UAE due to the ongoing political tensions between the Indian and Pakistan governments. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) then decreed that UAE will host the tournament on the BCCI’s behalf.
The six-team affair will be held from September 15 to 28 with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and a qualifier making up the rest of the teams.
India and Pakistan have been assured of two clashes against each other in the tournament’s schedule which was released a while ago. The first of their guaranteed clashes will take place in the group-stage on September 19 at Dubai.