With the two T20Is between Asia XI and World XI expected to be played next month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly has sent the names of India skipper Virat Kohli, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday.
The two T20s will be played to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was the first President of Bangladesh. Speaking to IANS, sources in the know of developments said that Ganguly had sent the names to BCB after the availability of players were checked.
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It further explained, “Ganguly sent in the names to the BCB after we checked on the availability of the players. Kohli, Shami, Dhawan, and Kuldeep will represent us in the Asia XI team. It has been a while since we sent the names because the Bangladesh board needed the list from BCCI to be able to prepare the Asian squad.”
The matches are scheduled to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on March 18 and 21. BCCI Joint Secretary Jayesh George has clarified that there would be no Pakistan players invited for the match.
The source further added, “What we are aware of is that there will be no Pakistan players in the Asia XI. That is what the message is, so, there is no question of both countries coming together or picking one over the other.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified that their cricketers will not be playing because of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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PCB’s spokesperson said, “The T20Is between World XI and Asia XI were scheduled from March 16-20, while the PSL 2020 is likely to end on March 22. Since the dates of both the series couldn’t be changed, we offered our regrets to the BCB, both verbally and in writing, which they understood and accepted. It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers.”
