On Monday, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah accepted a proposal from Zaka Ashraf, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to reevaluate the situation arising from continuous rainfall in Sri Lanka that has posed a threat to the Asia Cup 2023 schedule, as reported by sources to Geo News.
According to the sources, Zaka Ashraf approached the ACC President after the high-profile Pakistan vs. India match was washed out on Saturday due to heavy rains in Pallekelle. Additionally, the Super 4 phase of the tournament is planned to take place in Colombo, which is experiencing urban flooding due to rainfall.
Ashraf conveyed to Shah that more rain is expected in Sri Lanka, which could disrupt the matches, whereas Pakistan has clear weather with no rain in the forecast. He emphasized that the Asia Cup is a significant tournament that should not be adversely affected by weather conditions, as per the sources.
In response to the proposal, ACC President Jay Shah, who also serves as the secretary of the Indian cricket board, expressed his willingness to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, a dilemma has arisen for the Sri Lankan and Pakistani cricket boards, as well as the ACC, due to the firm opposition of Indian officials to relocating the matches to Dambulla. They argue that the hotels in Dambulla do not meet their standards. On the other hand, broadcasters have rejected the idea of moving the venue to Hambantota due to substandard hotel arrangements.
An emergency meeting of the regional cricket body has been called to address the latest situation, and a decision regarding a venue change is expected in the next 24-36 hours.
The PCB has expressed its concerns on the matter and has requested that their reservations be addressed. The ACC will explore various options and communicate with the PCB, who are the hosts of the event.
It is important to note that the Asia Cup 2023 was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, but certain matches were relocated to Sri Lanka because the Indian cricket board declined to send their team to Pakistan. The proposal to hold matches in the UAE was also rejected due to concerns about hot weather in the Gulf nation.