Asian Cricket Council announced a reserve day for the high-octane Super 4 game against India and Pakistan in Colombo, which sparked a wide range of controversy. This decision was made because of the high probability of severe rain on September 10, the scheduled day of the match, with a 90% chance of precipitation in the Island nation.
The ACC made it clear that if rain postpones the game on the original day, it will pick up where it left off on the reserve day. But the India-Pakistan game was the only one to have a reserve day, which caused controversy with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh games being scheduled in the same venue.
Even though Colombo will host all of the Super 4 stage games, the choice to only offer one game a reserve day generated questions about the fairness of the Asian Cricket Council. However, Sri Lanka Cricket and Bangladesh Cricket made some somewhat odd comments about the scenario of having a reserve day for the India-Pakistan game in Colombo.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revealed that the decision was taken with the consent of all four nations playing in the Super 4 stage of the tournament.
“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,” BCB Wrote on their X handle.
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
Similarly, Sri Lanka Cricket clarified that the reserve day for the India-Pakistan game was decided in consultation with the members of the Super 4 teams.
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
“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 change.
Surprisingly, the reserved day has only been preserved for the Super Fours game between India and Pakistan and not for any of the other Super Fours games, including the crucial contest between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Saturday.
India-Pakistan game in Kandy was abandoned after the first innings in the group stage of the tournament which might be the reason behind having a reserve for the match on Sunday. The remaining Asia Cup 2023 matches will be played in Colombo, where the weather is expected to be a little erratic and the decision was taken in accordance with having a full game between the two Asian heavyweights.