BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has insisted the 2020 edition of the Asia Cup will be held in Dubai in order to ensure the participation of both India and Pakistan.

The upcoming tournament, organized in the T20I format, is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in September but ongoing political tensions with India means their neighbouring rivals have refused to take part unless the competition is held in neutral territory.

"The Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and both India and Pakistan will play," Ganguly assured reporters before heading to Dubai for an Asian Cricket Council meeting.

Cricketing ties between Pakistan and India have become restricted to meetings in major ICC events in recent years with the last bilateral series taking place in 2012-2013.

The previous Asia Cup, held in 2018, was conducted in the United Arab Emirates although India had the initial hosting rights. India emerging as the eventual victors, clinching their seventh title and triumphed on both occasions against Pakistan during the course of the tournament.

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani responded to Ganguly's statement by reminding his counterpart that nothing had been finalized yet on this matter.

“The Asia Cup is organized for the benefit of the Associate Members. We will take a decision keeping that in mind. A final decision will be taken bearing in mind the interests of all the Asian countries. We have a few options,” Mani was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.