The chairman of the Pakistan Management Committee Zaka Ashraf has sent a letter to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) requesting compensation for the financial losses incurred as a result of the cancellation of a game during the Asia Cup 2023. The highly-anticipated match between India and Pakistan was cancelled due to heavy rainfall, and there are potential rain threats for the Super 4 games in Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written a letter to ACC President Jay Shah to express their concerns regarding the management of the Asia Cup tournament. The letter expresses disappointment with the decision of ACC to hold the Asia Cup matches in Colombo, despite the agreement among all member nations to move the Super 4 fixtures to Hambantota.
In a letter to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed their frustration with a unilateral decision regarding ACC to host a game in Colombo despite the risk of rainfall. The PCB also requested compensation for lost gate revenue if matches are washed out due to the weather.
“PCB, as the host of the Asia Cup 2023, is deeply troubled by the lack of consultation and communication that led to this ostensible and unilateral decision. It is still not clear who has taken this decision and, in this regard, a clarification is demanded.
“This latest arbitrary decision, not taken with the approval of competent authorities, appears to have been made in haste and irrationally. The question again arises as to who is making these decisions unilaterally, without following due process and without consulting the host for the event”.
“The Weather Forecast could not have possibly changed within a few minutes. What is the point of pandering to spectator’s bookings (that too only HA of the stadium capacity) if the game is washed out? The reasoning defies logic.
“Who will be responsible for the loss of gate receipts to the PCB and the adverse impact on the ACC Event’s brand value should the matches be rained out in Colombo? The ACC will have to take responsibility for the washed-out matches, incremental costs if any, and also reimburse PCB for the losses of gate revenue,” the PCB letter stated.
Earlier, Jay Shah provided an in-depth explanation about the selection of the venue for the Asia Cup 2023 tournament. In a statement issued, Jay Shah revealed that the members, media, and stakeholders were not willing to host the entire tournament in Pakistan due to the security and economic situation in the country.