Cricket fans of all ages have eagerly been anticipating the annual Asia Cup. Originally slated to take place in September, this event has now been postponed due to understandable health concerns. While there is no doubt that such news will come as a bit of a disappointment, cricket is only one of countless sports which have recently undergone such changes. Thus, fans will have to remain patient for the near future. This is the very same stance which has been adopted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in recent times. So, what have we learned so far and will this sport return to normalcy in the coming year? While no one can predict the future, there are still some logical conclusions that we may be able to draw.
A Change of Venue
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates were originally slated to host the 2020 Asia Cup and countless aficionados were anticipating what might have been in store. Obviously, such plans have now been called off. According to the latest news released by the ACC, Sri Lanka will instead be home to the 2021 competition. It is also thought that the 2022 Asia Cup may return to Pakistan under the guidance of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The ACC likewise said that it is optimistic that the Twenty20 competition in Sri Lanka will be able to go ahead without any further delays. Teams from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will all be present. However, might even these plans be called into question? This is the issue which is certain to weight heavily with fans during the coming months.
A Game of Watch and Wait
Cricket is a game defined by poise, control and patience. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the Asian Cricket Council has adopted the very same attitude when deciding the future of the Asia Cup. To be sure, it must have been very difficult to come to the decision that the 2020 would have to be cancelled. However, the fact of the matter is that health and safety are always top concerns.
Of course, it is rather challenging to predict if the 2021 competition will go ahead as planned. Although Sri Lanka has not been affected as severely as some other nations, fears of a so-called “second wave” still dominate. This is why fans who wish to keep informed should choose to follow reliable news sources such as Comeon India. They can likewise follow a host of other sports in order to remain up to date at all times.
The good news is that cricket competitions will undoubtedly return and the public will once again be able to enjoy all that this enthralling sport has to offer. This is why any delays that may be experienced will likely represent short-term issues. In the meantime, we can fully expect that the players themselves will continue training so that they can provide fans with a sense of fast-paced competition when they again return to the pitch.