PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf has proposed holding the remaining matches of the Asia Cup in Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates amid continuous rains in Sri Lanka, sources said.
In a telephonic conversation with Board of Control for Cricket in India Secretary Jay Shah as the two discussed rain-affected India-Pakistan match in Sri Lanka and the possibility of more rains which is likely to affect the continental tournament.
The PCB chairman suggested reviewing the weather conditions in Sri Lanka for the coming days and that a decision should be taken accordingly to hold the matches in Pakistan or UAE.
He said that the Asia Cup is a big tournament which should not be affected due to rain.
Earlier, ESPNcricinfo reported that the organising body was considering moving Asia Cup games in the Super Four round away from the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.
The report claimed that officials from the Sri Lanka Cricket and the PCB have confirmed to them that they were looking at alternative venues in Sri Lanka where rain was not forecast after seeing that the highly-anticipated contest between Pakistan and India ended in a washout.
On September 2, rain washed out the high-voltage contest between Pakistan and India played at the Pallakele Stadium in Sri Lanka. Both sides shared one point as Pakistan qualified for the Super 4s with the shared point.
Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi had criticised the Asian Cricket Council and BCCI for holding the tournament in Sri Lanka despite weather forecasts.
“How disappointing! Rain mars the greatest contest in cricket. But this was forecast. As PCB Chair, I urged the ACC to play in UAE but poor excuses were made to accommodate Sri Lanka,” he wrote on X.
“Too hot in Dubai, they said. But it was as hot when the Asia Cup was played there last time in Sep 2022 or when IPL was played there in April 2014 and Sep 2020. Politics over sport. Unforgivable!” he added.
