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The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has confirmed that the 2014 Asia Cup national team cricket tournament will take place in Bangladesh despite widespread civil unrest in the country.

It has been reported that Sri Lanka could replace Bangladesh as the host country of the competition, which is scheduled to begin on 25th February. The Board of Control for Cricket in India was reportedly ready to support the switch while the Pakistan Cricket Board said that the team's participation in the Asia Cup and the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh would depend on discussions with Pakistan's Government.

However, the ACC said last weekend that Bangladesh would remain the host country and added that Afghanistan would join the event, making it a five-team competition.

ACC Chief Executive Syed Ashraful Huq told the Reuters news agency, "it will be held in Bangladesh as scheduled and Afghanistan has been added as the fifth team.

"They (Afghanistan) have got the ODI (One-Day International) status. They are playing in the 2015 World Cup and they are playing the Twenty20 World Cup this year. This is to give them encouragement, experience, and exposure."

Widespread protests have taken place in Bangladesh against the backdrop of the country's general election last weeked. The main opposition party boycotted the election after labelling it "illegal" while nearly 60 polling stations were set on fire.

Meanwhile the ACC has awarded media rights for the event to the Star India broadcast subsidiary of broadcaster 21st Century Fox.

24th March 2011 - TERRORIST THREAT FOR CRICKET WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL