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'India could send second-string side to Asia Cup 2021 if dates coincide with WTC final'

'India to send second-string side to Asia Cup 2021 if dates coincide with WTC final'

By Web Desk

March 08, 2021

Saurav Ganguly's (pictured) BCCI could prioritise World Test Championship final over Asia Cup, according to an unnamed source of Times of India.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could send a second-string India side the this summer's Asia Cup, if it coincides with the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, Times of India (TOI) reported on Monday citing its sources.

India, thanks to their series win over England, have qualified for the WTC final opposite New Zealand. The final is expected to begin on June 18 in England, while Asia Cup, which was to originally staged last year but got postponed due to Covid-19, is now scheduled for June as well.

Soon after the WTC final, India also have a limited-overs series in England, which could see their top players hang back and get familiar to local conditions.

In light of this, a source, supposedly privy to the matter, told TOI that the BCCI might have to send to the Asia Cup a weakened side missing key players.

“There’s no other choice," the unnamed source is quoted as saying. "We can’t risk the preparation for the series in England. And cricketers can’t twice undergo quarantine.

"If the Asia Cup happens, India will have no option but to send a second-string squad,” the source added.

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