ACC hopes to hold Asia Cup in September

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has asked the region's four Test-playing countries to advise it of their availability for the Asia Cup which is now provisionally scheduled for September.

The proposal to hold the tournament then came after Zimbabwe announced that they would not be touring Pakistan, clearing a small space in the calendar ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.

However, Pakistan play their last ODI in England on September 10 and are unlikely to want to go straight into the Asia Cup as soon as they return from a long tour. The ICC's Future Tours Programme shows that Sri Lanka should be hosting a tri-series, but India have recently hinted that they will be looking to host a one-day series with Australia and Pakistan at the same time.

The Asia Cup had been allotted to Pakistan and was to be held in March but was deferred for next year when India showed its unavailability due to hectic activities. It seems wishful thinking by the ACC to expect the major players to agree to hold it so soon.