Ashish Ranjan
When the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced a reserve day specifically for the India vs. Pakistan Super 4 match in Colombo, the Asia Cup 2023 tournament sparked controversy. This decision was taken due to weather forecasts predicting a 90% chance of precipitation on September 10, the scheduled date of the match.
The ACC clarified that if rain disrupts the game on the original day, it will recommence from the point of suspension on the reserve day. However, the controversy was exacerbated by the fact that only the India-Pakistan match was granted a reserve day.
While all Super 4 stage matches are scheduled to be contested in Colombo, the provision of a reserve day for only one game raises concerns regarding fairness. Sri Lanka Cricket and Bangladesh Cricket, despite their respective head coaches’ displeasure with the decision, issued rather insightful statements on the matter.
It appeared from their statements on social media platform X that both boards were aware of the reserve day allocation and did not file a protest.
“A reserve day has been inserted for the India vs. Pakistan match in the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage, effectively modifying the Asia Cup playing conditions. To elucidate the situation, the decision was made with the approval of all four competing teams and the ACC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board wrote on Twitter.
Approximately half an hour later, Sri Lanka Cricket’s X profile featured a similar post.
“The reserve day for the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage match between India and Pakistan was determined 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 tweet read.
Many cricket supporters have questioned the ACC’s decision-making due to the disparity in providing a reserve day for only one match during the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup.
Coaches “surprised”
Both Sri Lanka’s Chris Silverwood and Bangladesh’s head coach Chandiika Hathurusingha expressed astonishment at the announcement of the reserve day for the matchup.Prior to the team’s match against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood stated, “I was a little surprised when I first heard.”
“However, we are not the competition’s organizers, so there’s not much we can do about it. Honestly, it will be a problem if the reserve day awards points to the teams and not someone else, but there’s nothing we can do about it, so we’ll continue to prepare and do our best,” the Englishman said.
Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusingha expressed a similar sentiment, implying that the decision was made without consulting the other competing teams. “I’ve never witnessed such a rule change in the midst of a tournament before. Each participating nation is represented on the technical committee of the Asia Cup. They may have made this decision for another reason. It’s not ideal, and we would have preferred an additional day.”
