The Bangladesh Cricket Board emphasized that the decision to add a reserve day just for the India-Pakistan Super Four match was decided with the agreement of all participating teams.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that all four teams approved the precautionary step on Friday, hours after a contentious reserve day was added for the upcoming India versus Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match.
One Super Four game, Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, was supposed to take place in Pakistan; all other games, including the championship, were supposed to take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. However, the tournament was ruined by severe rain in Sri Lanka.
Nevertheless, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) considered moving the venue to Hambantota due to the capital city’s constant rains before deciding to stick with Colombo.
The thrilling encounter between India and Pakistan at Pallekele was the only one to be called off during the group rounds. The decision to add a reserve day on Monday was made by the organizers due to the likelihood of another period of intense rain during their match on Sunday. Only the final had a reserve day when the tournament’s schedule was first released.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, which is hosting the tournament, issued the warning on Friday. “If adverse weather suspends play during the Pakistan vs. India game, the match will continue on September 11th 2023 from the point it was suspended,” it added.
“In such a case, ticket holders are advised to retain their match tickets as they will still be valid and used for the reserve day.”
In response to criticism of the move, the BCB issued the following statement .A reserve day for India Pakistan’s match in the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage has been added, thereby revising the Asia Cup playing conditions. To be clear, the decision was made with the approval of the ACC and the four participating teams.
The development also came as a surprise for the head coaches of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – the two remaining teams in contention.
“This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. This is a novel concept. Prior to his team’s match against Sri Lanka on Friday, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha said, “It’s not ideal.
“An additional day would be wonderful for us as well. Other than that, the technical committee has already taken a decision, so I won’t say anything more. Every nation competing in the Asia Cup is represented on the technical committee. They may have made the decision for another reason.
Hathurasingha’s Sri Lankan counterpart, Chris Silverwood, was a touch more reserved. “When I initially heard, I was a little shocked, but since we are not the competition’s organizers, there isn’t much we can do about it, Silverwood remarked.
Since there is nothing we can do about it, we will continue to prepare and perform to the best of our abilities. “To be honest, it will be an issue if the reserve day then offers points to the teams and not someone else.