Asia Cup 2023: Super 4s under fear of rain, worried ACC likely to change venues

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are currently discussing the possibility of changing venues for the Asia Cup 2023 Final and Super-4 matches. The venue is likely to be shifted from Colombo to Pallekele because of the threat of rain. In this context, Sri Lanka Cricket said three venues are under consideration: Pallekele, Dambulla and Hambantota. The six participating teams have also been informed about the possible change in venue.

Pallekele is currently hosting the Asia Cup league matches, but the possibility of rain in this hill town is also on the higher side. Dambulla is about 70 kilometres from Pallekele, and the chances of rain are much lower in the former city. After India refused to play matches in Pakistan, the hybrid format for the 2023 Asia Cup is being adopted in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with all knockout matches planned to take place there.

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PCB Chairman Najam Sethi also expressed his views on the rainy weather and precipitation that are constantly affecting the matches. “How disappointing! Rain mars the greatest contest in cricket. But this was forecast. As PCB Chair, I urged the ACC to play in the UAE, but poor excuses were made to accommodate Sri Lanka. Too hot in Dubai, they said. But it was as hot when the Asia Cup was played there last time in September 2022 or when the IPL was played there in April 2014 and September 2020. Politics over sport Unforgivable!” said the PCB chairman in a tweet.

The ACC will likely make the final decision on the venue change in the next 24-48 hours. Despite the heavy rain, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board is taking preventative measures to stave off the disruption caused by catastrophic weather.

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September 04, 2023 at 12:39PM