Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairperson Najam Sethi hit out at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after the marquee group stage fixture between India and Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup had to be abandoned.
The match which took place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka's Kandy on Saturday had to be called off due to rain after India batted first and scored 266 runs. Pakistan's chase couldn't even begin due to the inclement weather.
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Sethi took to social media and claimed that he had advocated that the India vs. Pakistan match be held in the UAE due to the weather forecast, but the ACC chose Sri Lanka as the venue.
Politics over sport - Sethi
He went on to claim that Asian Cricket Council, headed by Jay Shah, opted to play politics rather than take a sporting decision, due to which countless fans ended up disappointed.
“How disappointing! Rain mars the greatest contest in cricket. But this was forecast. As PCB Chair, I urged the ACC to play in UAE but poor excuses were made to accommodate Sri Lanka. Too hot in Dubai, they said. But it was as hot when the Asia Cup was played there last time in Sep 2022 or when IPL was played there in April 2014 and Sep 2020. Politics over sport. Unforgivable!,” Sethi wrote on X.
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What did Jay Shah, President of ACC, say?
Jay Shah has released a strongly-worded statement where he explained why the matches were not held in Dubai.
“All the full members, media rights holder, and in-stadia rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country," Shah said in the press release.
"In my capacity as ACC President, I was committed to finding a viable and mutually agreeable solution. To this end, I had accepted the hybrid model that was proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with the ACC management. However, it's important to note that the leadership of the PCB underwent several changes, and this resulted in some back-and-forth negotiations, particularly regarding crucial aspects such as tax exemption and insurance for matches.
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"The Asia Cup 2022 edition was played in the UAE in the T20 format. It's important to emphasize that the dynamics of a T20 tournament cannot be directly compared to those of a 100-over One-day format. In this context, ACC members received feedback from their respective high-performance teams, expressing concerns about playing One-day matches in the UAE in the month of September. Such a schedule could have potentially led to player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries, particularly right before the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup.
"The decision-making process regarding the Asia Cup 2023 format and venue was guided by a sincere desire to prioritize the well-being of the players, as well as the overarching interests of the sport. Ultimately, the goal was to strike a balance that would allow for a competitive and successful tournament while ensuring the health and readiness of the participating teams for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023," he said.
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Where will the Asia Cup Super 4 and final be played?
As things stand, the Asia Cup matches will go according to schedule and will be played in Colombo.
But things could change in the next few days if all stakeholders convene and decide to shift the games away from Colombo to Hambantota.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by the ACC in managing the Asia Cup amid unpredictable weather conditions and the need to balance logistical concerns with the expectations of fans and cricket boards. The final decision on the venue will likely require careful consideration of these factors.
When is the next India vs Pakistan clash?
India and Pakistan have both qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage. The two teams are set for a blockbuster clash on September 10.
