ACC President Jay Shah responds to playing Asia Cup in Sri Lanka

MUMBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is facing heaving criticism for holding the Asia Cup during the rainy season in Sri Lanka.

ACC President Jay Shah addressed the ongoing situation and the decision taken to move Asia Cup 2023 out of Pakistan.

Shah, who is also secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said he accepted the hybrid model as all full members were hesitant will play the tournament in Pakistan.

“All the full members, media rights holder, and in-stadia rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country,” Shah said in the press release.

“In my capacity as ACC President, I was committed to finding a viable and mutually agreeable solution. To this end, I had accepted the hybrid model that was proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with the ACC management. However, it’s important to note that the leadership of the PCB underwent several changes, and this resulted in some back-and-forth negotiations, particularly regarding crucial aspects such as tax exemption and insurance for matches.”

“The Asia Cup 2022 edition was played in the UAE in the T20 format. It’s important to emphasize that the dynamics of a T20 tournament cannot be directly compared to those of a 100-over One-day format.”

Jay Shah said ACC members received feedback from their respective teams, expressing concerns about playing One-day matches in the UAE in the month of September.

“Such a schedule could have potentially led to player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries, particularly right before the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup.”

“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.”