The scheduling of the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE has not gone down too well with Virender Sehwag, who has asked India to boycott the tournament.
The schedule for the six-team affair was released on Wednesday with India slated to play two back-to-back matches on September 18 and 19. The first of the two matches will see India take on a yet-to-be-decided qualifier, while the second will see them lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai.
In a discussion with India TV, the former India opener stated that the team would be better served by not participating in the tournament.
“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. But here here you are playing ODIs under hot Dubai weather without a break. So, I don’t think this is a correct scheduling,” Sehwag said.
India and Pakistan go head-to-head on September 19.
“Pakistan will be in a good shape whereas the Indian players will be tired. And if we end up losing the match, then there might be a problem. We always want India to win against Pakistan but if the Indian players are tired then Pakistan will definitely have the advantage.
“Why there’s such hue and cry over playing 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.”
Virat Kohli’s men are currently in England where they are preparing to take on the hosts in a five-match Test series. Their England tour is slated to culminate in the second week of September while the Asia Cup is scheduled to begin on September 15.
