The Asia Cup 2023 has taken an unexpected turn as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Jay Shah, seemingly reversed the decision to shift the Super 4 matches from Colombo to Hambantota due to anticipated rain.
Initially, the ACC had decided to relocate the Super 4 matches to Hambantota in light of a prolonged spell of rain expected in Colombo over the next 15 days. This decision was made following a thorough analysis of weather forecasts and the likelihood of rain disrupting the games. An email was circulated to all ACC members, led by Jay Shah, conveying this change in plans.
However, in a sudden turn of events, the ACC retracted the email and announced that the Super 4 matches would proceed as originally scheduled in Colombo.
This unilateral decision by the ACC has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) discontented and calling for an urgent meeting to address the matter. The abrupt venue change for the Asia Cup 2023 matches has posed logistical challenges for the PCB, and players are grappling with uncertainty surrounding the upcoming matches.
It’s worth noting that Jay Shah, who serves as both the President of the ACC and the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has faced criticism in the past for making last-minute alterations to the ICC World Cup 2023 schedule, drawing scrutiny from the cricketing community.
Asia Cup 2023 Remaining Matches Schedule Remains Same as a Courtesy of Jay Shah’s Mishandling:
Group Stages:
- Sept 5 – Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore at 2:30 pm (PST)
Super 4s:
- Sept 6 – A1 vs B2 in Lahore at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 9 – B1 vs B2 in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 10 – A1 vs A2 in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 12 – A2 vs B1 in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 14 – A1 vs B1 in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 15 – A2 vs B2 in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
Final:
- Sept 17 – Final in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
*Team positions in Super 4s are irrespective of their standings after the first round.
- Pakistan will retain A1
- India will retain A2
- If either Pakistan or India fail to qualify for the Super 4s, Nepal will assume their position
- Sri Lanka will maintain B1
- Bangladesh will remain B2
- If either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh fail to qualify for the Super 4s, Afghanistan will take their position.
