Najam Sethi maintained his attack on ACC with a five-word post ahead of India’s match against Nepal at Pallekele.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has come under fire after spectators were denied an exciting conclusion to the much-anticipated encounter between India and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday when rain washed out the second innings, allowing the two teams to share a point. Former PCB chief Najam Sethi then called out the ACC for using “poor excuses” to avoid holding the event in the UAE. He later maintained his attack on ACC with a five-word post ahead of India’s match against Nepal at Pallekele.
It was poised to be a thriller, and the likes of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf had set the tone early on when they wrapped up the Indian top order before Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya revived the innings with half-centuries of their own. India were subsequently dismissed for 266 runs in 48.5 overs.
During India’s innings, the rain had interrupted twice, but each delay only lasted for one shot. However, the delay that occurred prior to the start of the second innings persisted, and match officials were compelled to suspend play.
A short while later, Sethi went on X to explain that, while serving as the PCB chairman, he had lobbied the ACC to take the UAE into consideration as a second venue after the committee had chosen the Hybrid Model over the BCCI’s insistence that the Indian team not travel to Pakistan, the Asia Cup’s original only host nation. Furthermore, because of the island’s rainy season in September, Sri Lanka does not frequently hold sporting events. However, Sethi’s plea was denied using “poor excuses” related to the IPL.
What a letdown!” The greatest cricket game is marred by rain. However, it was anticipated. In my capacity as PCB Chair, I pushed the ACC to play in the UAE, but lame justifications were given to accommodate Sri Lanka. Dubai was deemed to be too hot. But the weather was just as scorching when the IPL took place there in April 2014 and September 2020, or when the Asia Cup was played there for the last time in September 2022. Sports above politics. Unforgivable!” he had written in his post.
Starting on September 9, five of the six Super Four games will take held at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium. ACC will likely decide in the next day or two if they want to take the risk of staging the matches in Colombo or transfer to Dambulla with rain anticipated in Pallekele, albeit the capital city has had substantial rainfall in recent days.
