Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has expressed discontent towards the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for allotting a reserve day for the India vs Pakistan Super Four encounter.
On September 9, the ACC, headed by Chairman Jay Shah, announced a reserve day for the Super Four rivalry featuring India and Pakistan on Sunday (September 10). Prasad weighed in on the development and didn’t resist criticising the decision.
R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is the preferred venue for the Super Four matches of the Asia Cup 2023. In an official release, the ACC announced that if inclement weather plays a spoilsport in the epic Super Four clash between the two arch rivals, the match will resume on Monday (September 11) from the point of its suspension.
Earlier, during the group stage fixture between the two nemeses on September 2, India posted a decent first-innings total of 266 before the match got abandoned due to heavy rain.
Prasad made scathing remarks on X (formerly Twitter) on the ACC’s decision, terming it as “unethical” and “absolute shamelessness”.
If true this is absolute shamelessness this. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams.
In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the… https://t.co/GPQGmdo1Zx— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023
Surprisingly, the X handles of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the move and assured that they had been intimated by ACC regarding the move.
“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,” the BCB tweeted.
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
Just half an hour later, the SLC wrote on X: “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. #AsiaCup2023”.
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
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
