The Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 matches are uncertain as the next 15 days in Colombo, Sri Lanka, forecast persistent bad weather. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to retain Colombo as the host city for the matches despite the evident threat of disruptions due to the inclement weather. This poses a possibility that Pakistan, with four points from their recent win against Bangladesh, might advance to the finals if the remaining matches are cancelled due to rain.
Following closely, Sri Lanka and India are tied with three points each, potentially leading to a coin toss to decide the finalist in case of further washouts. Bangladesh trails with two points, exiting the race to the finals under the current circumstances. Notably, the trophy will be shared if the finals scheduled for September 17 are also rained out.
Venue Controversy and PCB’s Concerns
Earlier this week, the ACC, under the leadership of President Jay Shah, stirred controversy surrounding the location of the Super 4 matches. Initially, a decision to move the matches to Hambantota due to the expected long rain spell in Colombo was communicated to all member boards.
However, this was abruptly reverted, announcing Colombo as the venue as originally planned. This sudden switch has not been well received by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are now grappling with logistical issues and have sought an urgent meeting to address the matter. This isn’t the first time Shah, who also holds a significant position in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been part of late alterations in scheduling, recalling his role in the recent changes to the ICC World Cup 2023 timetable which was met with criticism from various cricketing circles.
