In a surprising move, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) recently unveiled its decision to allot a reserve day exclusively for the Super-4 stage match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the ongoing 2023 Asia Cup. Should rain disruptions occur on the original match day, the game can seamlessly extend to September 11. This unique provision has led to raised eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity, especially since other Super-4 matches have not been afforded the same luxury. Notably, forecasts predict persistent rain in the Sri Lankan capital during the Super 4s stage, adding to the heightened concerns.
Bangladesh's coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, articulated his confusion during the pre-match press conference ahead of their fixture against Sri Lanka. "There is a technical committee (in Asia Cup) represented by every participating country – 6 nations. They might have decided it for some other reason," he remarked, indicating that the sudden alteration in the Asia Cup's playing conditions caught many off guard.
Hathurasingha's comments conveyed a sense of disappointment and implied that the decision was taken without any form of consensus among the participating nations. "It is not ideal, and we also would have liked to have an extra day," he emphasised. Further highlighting the lack of transparent communication from officials, Hathurasingha added, "But I don't have any more comment on this because they have already made a decision and had they consulted us earlier we would have given our opinion."
Sri Lanka's coach, Chris Silverwood, was taken aback by the ACC's selective decision. Expressing his surprise, Silverwood said, "Yeah! Look, obviously, I was a little surprised when I heard it first. But we don't organise the competition, so we can't do a whole lot about it, right?" Silverwood further cautioned about potential discrepancies that the provision could bring to the competition. He pointed out that the reserve day, if utilized, might endow either India or Pakistan with an unwarranted advantage, especially if it directly translates to additional points in the tournament. "To be honest, I see it only becoming a problem if it provides points to the teams, and affects us," Silverwood explained.
The controversial decision has indeed stirred the waters in the Asia Cup, and it remains to be seen how it will impact the tournament's dynamics and the teams' strategies in the coming days.
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