The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is facing heavy criticism for its decision to hold the Asia Cup during the rainy season in Sri Lanka.
Former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Najam Sethi expressed his disappointment when the much-anticipated match between Pakistan and India in the 2023 Asia Cup was called off due to rain at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. ,
Sethi revealed in a social media post that during his tenure he strongly advocated hosting Asia Cup matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avoid weather-related disruptions.
“How disappointing! Cricket’s biggest fixture affected due to rain. But it was predictable. As PCB chairman, I urged ACC to play in UAE but poor excuses were made to accommodate Sri Lanka,” he said , it’s very hot in Dubai. But it was as hot as the last time the Asia Cup was played there in September 2022 or when the IPL was played there in April 2014 and September 2020. Politics on sports. Unforgivable, Sethi on social media platform Posted on X.
how disappointing! The biggest match of cricket was affected due to rain. But it was predictable. As PCB chairman, I urged ACC to play in UAE but poor excuses were made to accommodate Sri Lanka. It is very hot in Dubai. But the last time the Asia Cup was played there, it was equally hot…
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) 2 September 2023
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag also added a tinge of humor to the situation, mocking the idea of holding the Asia Cup in the rainy season.
At the time of rain, toh Chai Pakode rahte hain yaar.
The Asia cup was also kept. #BHAvsPAK– Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 2 September 2023
Meanwhile, Pakistani fans expressed their disappointment over the ACC’s decision to choose Sri Lanka as the venue and pointed out that Pakistan could have easily hosted the entire tournament without the interruption of the weather.
Had the Indian government not been adamant and sent its team to Pakistan, the entire tournament would have been held in Pakistan, we could have seen some great games in Pakistan without any rain interruptions. Just see how friendly the players are.. but why their government?… pic.twitter.com/BIEkqZ76f1
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) 2 September 2023
The day was ruined as the match was abandoned due to rain. There is only one person to blame: Jai Shah. The SL Board warned of Kandy weather and proposed Dambulla as an alternative. They didn’t take that nor did they want to go to Pakistan to escape the rainy season in Sri Lanka… pic.twitter.com/FdnYa840hg
– Maria Rajput (@mariya_raj10) 2 September 2023
BCCI has unrealistic arrogance. Everything was set and perfect. Imagine inviting the hosts to a neutral location and messing up their schedule just for the sake of your merciless arrogance! Imagine these matches in Pakistan, no rain, no waste of time!! shameless
— C (@gayomarlic) 2 September 2023
Significantly, Sri Lanka became the co-host of the 2023 Asia Cup after India refused to go to Pakistan for the event. As a compromise, a hybrid model suggested by Sethi was adopted, in which four matches of the Asia Cup 2023 would be played in Pakistan and the remaining matches in Sri Lanka. The decision has now come under criticism due to the weather-related disruptions that have affected the tournament in Sri Lanka.
