Sourav Ganguly sends names of 4 Indian players for Asia XI vs World XI. The two matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
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The Bangladesh cricket board will host the two Asia XI vs World XI T20I fixtures on March 18 and 21 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding the matches and the players that will participate in it.
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According to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has sent four names to the BCB after the availability of players were checked. Interestingly, the report states that it has already been a while since the names were sent out because the Bangladesh board needed the list to prepare their squad.
Sourav Ganguly sends names of 4 Indian players for Asia XI vs World XI
The sources in the know have told IANS that captain Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammad Shami and Kuldeep Yadav will represent India in the Asian squad.
“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 source told IANS.
Interestingly, the first match between the Asian XI and the World XI will clash with India’s final ODI against South Africa. However, it is possible that the Indian players will skip the first match and take part in the second T20I.
Pakistan players will not participate in Asia XI vs World XI
There were also some doubts regarding the participation of Pakistan players considering the relations between them and India. However, BCCI’s joint secretary Jayesh George confirmed that there would be no Pakistani players in the match.
“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,” he had said.
The PCB has since clarified that this was not a case of the BCB snubbing them in the favour of India. Instead, they declined to participate due to their own commitments with the Pakistan Super League.
“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 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,” a PCB spokesperson said.
“It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers.”
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