In a surprising turn of events, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah, who also serves as the Indian board’s secretary, has once again changed the venue for the Asia Cup 2023, causing uproar within the cricketing community. This sudden decision comes just hours after an agreement to relocate the matches to another city, according to sources.
Initially, the ACC had announced that the matches would be moved to Hambantota, Sri Lanka. However, in a baffling twist, an email was sent to ACC members on Tuesday, revealing that the games would now be held in Colombo. This abrupt change has triggered a strong reaction from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who have expressed their vehement reservations about the matter.
“The PCB has expressed strong reservations on the matter,” sources revealed. They further disclosed that the PCB is demanding an emergency meeting of the ACC to reach a consensus decision on this venue change.
The Pakistan cricket authorities are unwilling to accept this unilateral decision by the regional cricket body led by Jay Shah. This move has placed administrators in a difficult position as they had already made logistical arrangements for matches in Hambantota, only to be told that the venue will remain unchanged.
This situation has also left the players in a state of confusion, as they grapple with the uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s venues.
It’s worth noting that Jay Shah’s unwavering stance has plunged the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 into a series of controversies. Originally, nine out of 13 matches were scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka after India refused to send its team to Pakistan due to political tensions.
Following the interruption of two tournament matches, including the highly anticipated Pakistan vs. India clash being washed out, the PCB proposed relocating the remainder of the tournament to Pakistan. However, the ACC disregarded this suggestion, further fueling the ongoing controversy surrounding the Asia Cup 2023.
