New Delhi: In a startling twist, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have faced accusations from former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi regarding their decision to keep the India vs. Pakistan Super-4 match venue in Colombo despite adverse weather forecasts. With the first Asia Cup 2023 encounter between the arch-rivals already succumbing to rain, the fate of another highly anticipated clash hangs in the balance as rain threats loom over Sunday’s showdown.
A rain-drenched start for Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2023 began with India and Pakistan facing off, only for the match to be abandoned due to persistent rain. In that group stage match, Pakistan never got a chance to face a single delivery after India set a target of 267 runs.
Venue change contemplated
Amidst concerns over unpredictable weather conditions in various parts of Sri Lanka, discussions emerged about the possibility of shifting the venue for the Super-4 games. The focus was on moving the India vs. Pakistan Super-4 match from Colombo to Hambantota, which had a significantly lower chance of rain, with Colombo showing an 89% chance of precipitation compared to Hambantota’s 12%.
BCCI and ACC’s decision
Despite these stark weather differences, Sethi claims that the BCCI and ACC initially considered moving the match to Hambantota but then abruptly reverted their decision, keeping Colombo as the venue for the high-profile encounter.
Sethi’s accusations
Expressing his concerns, Sethi took to social media, sharing weather forecasts and questioning whether India was reluctant to face Pakistan on the field. He wrote, “BCCI/ACC informed PCB today that they had decided to shift next India-Pak match from Colombo to Hambantota because of rain forecasts. Within one hour they changed their mind and announced Colombo as the venue. What’s going on? Is India afraid to play and lose to Pakistan? Look at the rain forecast!”
Venue consistency in question
It’s worth noting that, except for the first Super-4 match between Pakistan and Bangladesh scheduled in Lahore, all remaining contests in the Asia Cup 2023 are set to take place in Colombo. This decision has raised questions about venue consistency amidst weather uncertainties.
As cricket fans eagerly await the India vs. Pakistan Super-4 clash, the backdrop of weather-related venue changes adds an extra layer of intrigue to this iconic rivalry.