Asia Cup Controversy: Coaches Express Concerns Over Extra Day for India-Pakistan Clash

 Asia Cup 2023: In an unexpected twist of events, coaches representing Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have openly voiced their dissatisfaction with the decision to allocate an additional day for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash during the ongoing Asia Cup. 

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The tournament, hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has stirred controversy due to the exclusive provision of a reserve day for the India-Pakistan match in Colombo on Sunday. This decision has raised eyebrows, particularly because it could potentially grant one of these two teams an undue advantage over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

A Potential Unfair Advantage

The concern stems from the fact that this unique arrangement could allow either India or Pakistan to secure two points if the match continues on the reserve day due to adverse weather conditions. In contrast, a washout on the originally scheduled match day would have resulted in both teams earning just one point each. This alteration in playing conditions in the middle of the tournament, specifically for one fixture, is viewed as unprecedented and contentious.

Mysterious Announcement by PCB

Interestingly, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the governing body overseeing the tournament, has refrained from issuing an official statement regarding this decision. Instead, it was the PCB, which has been engaged in disputes with the ACC regarding venue choices, that released the advisory without disclosing the rationale behind the move.

The official statement from the PCB reads, "A reserve day has been incorporated for the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4's match between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place on 10th September at Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. In the event of adverse weather suspending play during the Pakistan vs. India game, the match will resume on 11th September from the point of suspension."

Influence of Broadcasters

Reports indicate that pressure from broadcasters played a significant role in introducing the reserve day, especially in the aftermath of the washout of the group-stage fixture between India and Pakistan. This match traditionally generates substantial advertising revenue. Anticipating improved weather conditions from Monday afternoon onward, the tournament organizers decided to include a reserve day to ensure uninterrupted coverage of this high-profile encounter.

Notably, the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match, scheduled for Saturday at the R Premadasa Stadium, also faces the threat of rain. However, due to the India-Pakistan fixture on Sunday, these teams have not been granted the luxury of a reserve day, raising questions about fairness and consistency in the management of the tournament.