The Asia Cup 2023 was still the talk of the cricket town on Friday even if there was no scheduled match that day. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decision to add a reserve day for the final and the India vs Pakistan (IND vs PAK) Super 4 game but not for any of the other games that would also include Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was widely criticized.
The two sets of coaches will share their opinions on the matter, given the rain threat for the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh game on Saturday. Chris Silverwood, the coach of Sri Lanka, expressed his amazement at the ACC’s decision to use various playing conditions.
Chandika Hathurusingha, his counterpart, would agree, saying, “It is not ideal, and we also would have liked to have an extra day.” However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would subsequently claim that the choice “was taken with the consent of all four participating teams and ACC.”
Venkatesh Prasad on IND vs PAK reserve day
Venkatesh Prasad, a former Indian pacer, would also voice his viewpoint on social media, criticizing the organizers for their choice.
“If true this is absolute shamelessness this. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams. In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the second day and these malicious plans not succeed,” Prasad tweeted.
Later Prasad also took a shot at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
There have been discussions about moving the Super 4 match between the arch rivals from the capital of Sri Lanka, where it has been continuously raining since last week, to Hambantota after the last India-Pakistan game in the group stages of the present competition was postponed due to inclement weather.
However, the ACC has opted to add a reserve day for the game on Sunday and the summit clash since the aforementioned matchup and the other six remaining matchups would all still be played in Colombo.
