Rain in Sri Lanka has significantly impacted the 2023 Asia Cup. The tournament is being played in a hybrid format, with the majority of the games taking place in the island country and four games in Pakistan. Rain forced the cancellation of Saturday’s match between India and Pakistan. The second innings saw no bowling of any balls. It started to rain again after India’s skipper Rohit Sharma decided to bowl against Nepal on Monday. Amid the weather disruption, Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Zaka Ashraf is thinking of shifting the game from Sri Lanka. Scroll down to read Zaka Ashraf Asks ACC To Shift Asia Cup Matches.
Zaka Ashraf On Shifting Asia Cup Matches From Sri Lanka
According to reports, due to the weather, Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has suggested moving Sri Lanka’s remaining Asia Cup 2023 matches to Pakistan. Zaka Ashraf allegedly spoke on the phone with Jay Shah, the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), about how the weather is affecting the matches in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s first innings score of 266 was insufficient to win the much-awaited match between India and Pakistan. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya both scored half-centuries to help Pakistan win. No balls were bowled in the second innings, and the game had to be abandoned owing to the continuing rain.
Vice president of the BCCI, Rajeev Shukla, and President Roger Binny arrived in Lahore on Monday for a two-day tour. Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board, was questioned on the same day about his conversations with Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, regarding the postponement of games due to rain. He only said, “Thinking about it.”
ACC To Shift Asia Cup 2023 Matches
In response to the torrential rains that have been pounding Colombo, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is reportedly considering changing the location of the Super Four matches of the Asia Cup. From September 9 forward, Colombo will host five Super Four games and the championship match. Although there are currently little indications that the weather will improve.
In that regard, the ACC is now in conversation regarding a potential location change with the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and event host Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PTI has been informed that Pallekele, Dambulla, and Hambantota are the three potential locations. The six competing teams have also been informed of the potential site change.
The Asia Cup league matches will now take place at Pallekele, although there is a higher-than-average chance of rain there. Dambulla is about 70 km away from Pallekele. The site has far less possibility of rain.
Also read, India vs Nepal Asia Cup 2023: Will Rain Spoil Another Game?
