India-Pakistan match reserve day in Asia Cup leads to huge controversy; here is the clarification
New Delhi, September 9
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that the reserve day for the high-profile Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan clash was added after consultation with all the teams competing in Super Four stage of the tournament, ie, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
This comes after the head coaches of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka voiced their misgivings over the decision of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to add a reserve day for the India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup Super-4 stage.
“A reserve day for India Pakistan contest in the Asia Cup Super-4 stage has been added that effectively revised the Asia Cup playing condition. To clarify on the position, the decision was taken with the consent of all four participating teams and ACC,” tweeted the BCB.
A reserve day for India Pakistan contest in Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage has been added that effectively revised the Asia Cup playing condition. To clarify on the position, the decision was taken with the consent of all four participating teams and ACC.
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 8, 2023
The SLC also tweeted, “The reserve day for the India-Pakistan contest of the Asia Cup Super-4 stage was taken in consultation with all four member boards of the Super-4 competing teams. Accordingly, the ACC effectively revised the playing conditions of the tournament to effect the agreed-upon change. #AsiaCup2023.”
The reserve day for the India-Pakistan contest of the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage was taken in consultation with all four member boards of the Super 4 competing teams.
Accordingly, the ACC effectively revised the playing conditions of the tournament to effect the agreed-upon…
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 8, 2023
Earlier on Friday, a reserve day was announced for the India-Pakistan clash, which will be played at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Not holding back, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingh said the decision is not “ideal” as even they would have preferred a reserve day. “There is a technical committee (in Asia Cup) represented by every participating country. They might have decided it for some other reason. It is not ideal as we also would have liked to have an extra day,” the Bangladesh coach said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But I don’t have any more comment on this because they have already made a decision. If they had consulted us earlier, we would have given our opinion,” the Bangladesh head coach added.
His Lankan counterpart, former England speedster Chris Silverwood, also expressed his frustration over ACC’s decision saying that it could affect qualification scenarios in the elimination stages of the tournament.
“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? I haven’t seen this kind of thing in another tournament, this changing rules in the middle of the tournament,” Silverwood said. “To be honest, I see it only becoming a problem if it provides points to the teams, and affects us,” Silverwood added.
As per the ACC, if adverse weather suspends play during the India and Pakistan game, the match will continue on September 11 from the point it was suspended.
In such an eventuality, ticket-holders are advised to hold on to their match tickets which will remain valid and will be utilised for the reserve day.
