The Asian Cricket Council is pondering changing the venue for the Super 4 stage as per reports in Indian Express.
The greatest cricket rivalry IND vs PAK washed out at pallekele due to heavy rain.
The ongoing Asia Cup 2023 faces a potential change in venue for the Super 4 stage as heavy rainfall continues to batter Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to a report by the Indian Express. The tournament, hosted jointly by Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid format, is grappling with adverse weather conditions affecting crucial matches.
Originally, when Sri Lanka was designated as the second host, Sri Lanka Cricket suggested Dambulla as the event venue due to its dry climate in the central part of the country. However, both teams and broadcasters expressed reservations about relocating matches to Dambulla. Consequently, Colombo and Pallekele were chosen as the venues, but they too have experienced heavy rainfall over the past five days.
Even the high-stakes match between India and Pakistan in Pallekele was washed out due to relentless rain. This has raised concerns among the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the participating teams regarding the viability of continuing matches in Colombo, particularly during the ongoing monsoon season.
While the ACC initially hoped for weather conditions to improve in Colombo, the persistent rains have prompted a reconsideration of their decision. The first game of the Asia Cup 2023 is slated to be played in Colombo on September 9, heightening apprehensions about the weather forecast.
In response to the weather challenges, the ACC is now exploring alternative venues for the Super 4 stage. Pallekele and Dambulla are being considered as potential options to ensure uninterrupted gameplay. The ACC is expected to make a final decision on the venue change within the next 24 to 48 hours.
It’s important to note that Sri Lanka typically avoids hosting matches in Colombo in September due to the monsoon season. Given the current circumstances, hosting the Super 4 matches in Colombo would require exceptional measures to mitigate the impact of rain.
The ACC is actively assessing the situation to ensure the smooth progress of the Asia Cup 2023, and further updates are anticipated soon. The league stage of the tournament concludes on September 6 with a match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Lahore.
