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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly demanded compensation from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for lost gate money revenue due to majority of Asia Cup matches being played on Sri Lankan soil. According to media reports, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf has formally written to ACC President Jay Shah to express his dissatisfaction over how the last-minute venue alterations were managed by the ACC.
In the letter, Ashraf raised concerns over the decision-making process for venue changes, emphasising that other ACC board members, including Pakistan, were not consulted. He also references a meeting that took place between some ACC members from Sri Lanka and Pakistan following an India-Nepal match. During this meeting, it was allegedly agreed that due to favorable weather conditions in Hambantota, matches initially scheduled for Colombo would be relocated there.
Ashraf revealed that on September 5, both the hosting countries and the ACC finalised the move to Hambantota, prompting immediate preparations for the shift, including mobilising Sri Lanka's head curator for pitch preparation and altering broadcast crew plans.
“In the meeting it was agreed that since the forecast is that Hambantota would remain dry the matches in Colombo should be moved there,” Ashraf wrote in the letter.
Despite these preparations and a confirming email from the ACC, the PCB was later informed to disregard the email and that matches would proceed as originally planned in Kandy and Colombo.
The PCB chairman has expressed surprise and displeasure at the sudden reversal, especially as Pakistan was not involved in these crucial decisions regarding the tournament and venue scheduling. With this formal letter to the ACC, the PCB seeks not only answers but also financial compensation for the resultant loss in gate revenues.
(With inputs from PTI, powered by AI)
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