Asia Cup 2018 shifted to UAE from India

The Asia Cup 2018 has now been shifted to United Arab Emirates (UAE) from India over Pakistan´s refusal to cross the border, as relations simmer between the arch rivals, the Asian Cricket Council said Tuesday.

The event was due to be held in India in September, sparking protests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who called for the event to be relocated.

The tournament is likely to be played between September 13 and 28.

The decision was taken by the Executive Board members at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

"The ACC deliberated on the matter and decided that this was the best way forward," ACC and PCB chairman Najam Sethi told ESPNcricinfo.

With Pakistan and India unable to host, Bangladesh held three straight Asian Cups from 2012 to 2016.

This year's Asia Cup will feature Full Members India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The sixth team will be determined via a playoff that includes UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and Oman.

This will be the 14th edition of the Asia Cup. The first 12 were staged as ODI competitions, while the previous Asia Cup in 2016 was the first to be held as a T20I event, effectively as a warm-up event ahead of the World T20.