The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is reportedly contemplating relocating the Super Four round games of the ongoing Asia Cup, initially set to be hosted in Colombo, due to the forecasted inclement weather in the Sri Lankan capital. The current tournament, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, operates on a hybrid model since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined a tour to Pakistan for the competition last year. Colombo was slated to host five Super Four round games and the finale. However, persistent heavy rainfall in the region, leading to flooding in areas close to the Khettarama Stadium, has spurred discussions between the ACC and broadcasters Disney Star on the feasibility of this plan.
During the weekend, the highly awaited match between India and Pakistan in Pallekele was called off after only one innings due to rain interference, amplifying the concerns over the weather conditions in Colombo. Alternative venues within Sri Lanka, experiencing comparatively drier weather, are currently being explored by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, specific details on the potential weather outlook in the coming weeks remain unclear.
Alternative Venues and Reactions
According to reports, Dambulla has been proposed as a potential alternative despite concerns regarding the adequacy of hotel and accommodation facilities and ongoing work on stadium floodlights. Another potential option is Pallekele, although this venue is not without its risk of rain disruptions. The ACC is expected to make a decisive call in the next two to three days. This deliberation has been corroborated by a senior BCCI official, who acknowledged ongoing discussions about the likely relocation of the matches from Colombo due to the region’s weather forecast.
The interruption of the India-Pakistan match, a tournament highlight, has elicited disappointment among cricket enthusiasts, including former PCB chairman Najam Sethi. He voiced his dissatisfaction on social media, lamenting the missed opportunity to host the event in the United Arab Emirates due to purported political reasons, despite the region having successfully hosted similar events in the past, including the Indian Premier League in 2014 and 2020, and the previous Asia Cup in 2022.
 is in talks to identify alternative venues. Get the latest updates on the potential shifts and reactions from the cricket community.){kind=link}