Sehwag urges India to snub Asia Cup 2018; BCCI calls schedule 'mindless'

Just days after the Asia Cup schedules were announced, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has criticized the fixtures as Indian team finds itself playing two matches on two successive days.

"The scheduling is mindless. There appears to be zero application of mind. How can you accept a scenario where India plays a game today and tomorrow it will face its arch-rival Pakistan who will have a two-day period of rest?" a BCCI official was as quoted by Cricketnext.

"This is unacceptable and has to be revisited. Maybe for the organisers, it is just a money-spinning game but for us, it is important that there be equity in scheduling," the BCCI official further added.

According to the schedule, India will play the winners of the qualifiers on September 18 before locking horns with Pakistan on September 19. However, the same is not the case with Pakistan as they get enough breathing space after their game on September 16.

'Don't play the Asia Cup'

Former Indian captain Virender Sehwag, who seldom minces his words, has said that India should not play in the Asia Cup due to its schedule.

"I am really shocked to see the scheduling because which country plays back-to-back cricket matches these days? There was a gap of two days in between the T20 matches in England and here you are playing ODIs under hot Dubai weather and that too without a break. So, I don't think this is a correct scheduling," Sehwag told India TV.

"Why is there such hue and cry over playing in the Asia Cup? Don't play the Asia Cup. Prepare the team for the home series or the away series. It's really difficult to play back-to-back games," he added.

This particular edition of Asia Cup will be played in the 50-over format with the World Cup scheduled next year. India are the defending champions, as they won the tournament defeating Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2016. The tournament was played in T20 format back then.

Here are the fixtures for the group stage:

September 15 - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)

September 16 - Pakistan vs Qualifier (Dubai)

September 17 - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

September 18 - India vs Qualifier (Dubai)

September 19 - India vs Pakistan (Dubai)

September 20 - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Super Four

September 21 - Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Dubai)

September 21 - Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

September 23 - Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

September 23 - Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

September 25 - Group A Winner vs Group B Winner (Dubai)

September 26 - Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Final

September 28 - Asia Cup 2018 Final (Dubai)