Sri Lanka Cricket CEO confirms no Asia Cup in June this year due to COVID-19

The Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament to be hosted by Sri Lanka in June has been postponed because of the worsening coronavirus crisis in the island nation. The tournament was supposed to be hosted by Pakistan but it was shifted to Sri Lanka due to the pandemic.

“Due to the prevailing situation, it will not be possible to play the tournament in June this year,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva told reporters.

According to Sportstar, Silva added that the event might have to be put back until after the 2023 50-over World Cup because most teams have already planned schedules for the next two years.

De Silva said the Asian Cricket Council would soon be announcing it formally. Coronavirus infections have spread rapidly across South Asia in recent weeks, with many nations banning flights from the region. Sri Lanka on Wednesday also announced a 10-day ban on airline passengers coming into the country.

The Sri Lankan national team is currently touring Bangladesh to play a three-match ODI series which begins on 23rd May.