The ACC also confirmed that Asia Cup 2016 and 2020 will be played in Twenty20 format and the event in 2018 will be played in ODI format. The two associate nations though can join the event only through qualifying rounds."Asia Cups 2016 and 2020 will be Twenty20 events as a prelude to the ICC World Twenty20s. They will be played between the four Test-playing countries, plus two Associates from an Asia Cup Qualifier. Asia Cup 2018 will be an ODI event," the ACC posted on its official Facebook page.
Asia Cup 2016 is expected to be held early next year, before India hosts the ICC World Twenty20 from March 11 to April 3. However, the venue has yet to be revealed and the schedule for the qualifiers is yet to be announced.
"The Asia Cup is set to undergo a radical change and will be a Twenty20 competition in 2016 for the first time," ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Haq told cricket.com.au. He also added that the event could be held in February or March next year.
However, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is not aware about any decision regarding the Asia Cup.
CAN Acting General Secretary Uttam Karmacharya said that the cricket governing body of Nepal has not received any formal information about the changes made to the format of the Asia Cup.
"We are not aware about the decisions since we have not received any formal information from the ACC," said Karmacharya, who, however, opined that such changes will be great opportunity for Nepal.
Nepal, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates have Twenty20 status.
ACC to be dissolved in June 30
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to dissolve Asian Cricket Council (ACC) from June 30, according to various media reports.
Multiple sources within and outside the world cricket governing body have revealed that the ACC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur will be shut down from June 30 this year.
However, the closure will not affect the Asia Cup, which will be handled by the ICC.
In reply to queries put forward by Republica, Peter Breen, media and communication officer at the ACC, wrote an email informing that they would give an update about the issue "within the next couple of days".
The ACC was first established in 1983 as Asian Cricket Conference. However, the name was then changed to Asian Cricket Council in 1995.
Meanwhile, ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Haq confirmed to cricket.com.au that the ACC's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur would close on June 30 and the development work currently done by the organization would be taken over by the ICC. Two ACC employees will work from Singapore but all the development works will be done by the ICC.
The changes will render Haq jobless from June 30.
CAN extends tenure of CEO and Finance Officer
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday decided to extend the contracts of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhawana Ghimire and Finance Manager (FM) Prakash Maharjan by three months. The six-month contracts of Ghimire and Maharjan had expired on Tuesday.
CAN also decided to appoint Cricket Operating Manager and Development Officer in nine cricket development regions.
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