Asia Cup to go ahead in Dhaka, Afghanistan added

Colombo: Asia's cricket chiefs today said violence-plagued Bangladesh would remain the venue for next month's Asia Cup and added Afghanistan as the fifth team in the regional one-day tournament.

Some observers had expected officials to move the tournament out of Bangladesh following an outbreak of violent protests and strikes in the capital Dhaka ahead of elections Sunday.

"The tournament will go ahead as scheduled in Bangladesh from February 25 to March 7," Asian Cricket Council chief executive Ashraful Huq told AFP after an executive board meeting in Colombo.

"Everything is in place for the tournament, no one raised any issue about safety," Huq said, adding the Bangladesh Cricket Board had made a detailed security presentation at the meeting.

All 11 matches in the tournament will take place in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka as planned, despite the violence that has plagued the city in the build-up to Sunday's general elections.

Election-related violence in Bangladesh has claimed more than 140 lives since late October, with opposition parties boycotting the polls and organising a series of blockades across the country.

Afghanistan will join Asia's four Test nations -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- in the 50-over tournament, Huq added.

The fast-improving Afghanistan team, which has qualified for their maiden appearance in the 50-over World Cup, have also made it to their third successive World Twenty20.

"This is a big step forward for Afghanistan," Huq said. "Their participation in the Asia Cup will encourage them for the bigger tests ahead."

Bangladesh is also due to host the World Twenty20 tournament from March 16 to April 6.

Bangladesh to remain venue of Asia Cup

Bangladesh to remain venue of Asia Cup

Colombo: The security concerns triggered by political unrest in Bangladesh notwithstanding, the country will remain the host of the Asia Cup next month, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced today.

"There is no change to the venue, it will go ahead as planned in Bangladesh," Ashraful Haque, the ACC chief executive officer said here today.

The ACC executive committee met here to discuss a possible alternative venue in view of the ongoing political unrest in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The Asia Cup is scheduled between February 24 and March 7.

Dhaka, during the recent weeks, has been gripped by political unrest ahead of the January 5 general elections. In December the West Indies under-19 team withdrew from the tour after a bomb explosion in Dhaka.

Haque said ACC has also decided to invite Afghanistan to take part in the Asia cup -- their first attempt at a major international competition. They will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The tournament will now feature a total of 11 games with Afghanistan's entry.

Haque said the ACC had also accepted a bid from STAR India Pvt Ltd for broadcast and ground rights for the Asia Cup.

Commenting on the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour to Bangladesh, Nishantha Ranatunga, the SLC secretary said the tour will go ahead despite security concerns.

"We will ask for security guarantees and will go on the tour. We have to show solidarity with Bangladesh as a country which has experienced similar situations," Ranatunga said.