Asia Cup cricket may be rescheduled again

KARACHI: The 2008 Asia Cup cricket tournament is likely to be postponed again as India has still not confirmed its participation for the continental event.

The Asia Cup is scheduled from April 17 next year but could be pushed back for another two weeks because the dates are clashing with India's proposed tour of Australia.

India had requested during an Asian Cricket Council meeting in Singapore to wait for their confirmation due to the team's tour of Australia before any final decision over staging the event was taken, Pakistan Cricket Board's Director, Cricket Operations, Salim Altaf said.

"If India confirmed their participation, the regional event could be held in the first week of May, 2008," Altaf said.

India, most probably, would visit Australia in January-February next year after which the Aussies would come to Pakistan in the first week of March.

"Australia's tour of Pakistan could last till April 25, hence, there was no chance for Pakistan to hold the Asia Cup on the scheduled date," Altaf added.

The event was proposed to be held in Pakistan in early 2006 but it could not be possible due to crisis in the Indian Cricket Board. Later, India showed their consent to participate in 2008, the report added.