Hambantota on hold as Sri Lanka leg of Asia Cup will continue in Colombo

The match between India and Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 was affected by rain and hence, no conclusive result could be drawn. India’s match against Nepal also felt the threat of being called off, but fortunately, it didn’t affect the result of the game. To ensure that all the remaining matches get organised smoothly, without rain interruptions, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) pondered on the idea of shifting a few Super Four matches to Hambantota.

However, as things stand, they have dropped the plan and Colombo will host all the matches that are expected to take place on Sri Lankan shores. The weather situation and forecast in Colombo are reportedly improving and hence, ACC is confident of pulling it off. Notably, the BCCI secretary and ACC chief, Jay Shah, has faced massive criticism from the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Najam Sethi, as the duo was in constant argument regarding the venue of the Asia Cup 2023.

Notably, Colombo will host its first game on September 9, and the weather is expected to improve significantly ahead of that. The two qualifiers of Group B will take on each other on the day, while Pakistan will host India on September 10, in R. Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo.

Goal was to allow competitive tournament while ensuring health of teams: Shah

Meanwhile, no official of either ACC or PCB confirmed the new development. PCB wanted the entire tournament to be hosted in Pakistan but Jay Shah recently clarified that the participating nations, broadcasting crew and the in-sight holders were hesitant to travel to Pakistan and hence, ACC accepted Pakistan’s hybrid model.

“The decision-making process regarding the Asia Cup 2023 format and venue was guided by a sincere desire to prioritize the well-being of the players, as well as the overarching interests of the sport. Ultimately, the goal was to strike a balance that would allow for a competitive and successful tournament while ensuring the health and readiness of the participating teams for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” Shah said in a statement.