Asia Cup postponed?

The feud between cricket bodies in India and Pakistan is believed to have forced the postponement of the five-team Asia Cup tournament due to take place in Karachi in April, it was reported on Saturday.

The English-language South China Morning Post quoted Hong Kong cricket officials as saying the tournament -- featuring India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Hong Kong -- would not now go ahead as planned.

Hong Kong Cricket Association official Mark Burns told the paper the one-day tournament would now probably take place in 2002.

"It is 95 per cent certain the Asia Cup, due to be held in Pakistan in April, won't take place. In all probability it will be postponed to 2002," Burns was quoted as saying.

The delay means the cash-strapped HKCA will have to wait for a 100,000-dollar windfall they had been promised after surprisingly qualifying for the tournament last year, the paper said.

But Burns said the delay could help the Asian cricket minnows bolster their pool of players as they prepare to take on the Test-playing giants in the tournament.

"While the delay will give those players on the fringes of qualifying the opportunity to play under the residency rule, it will also mean that others will get older."

Mail Cricket Editor