Asia Cup 2023 Reserve Day: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka board contradict their own coaches, term Indo-Pak decision as 'unanimous'

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The decision by the Asian Cricket Council to create a designated reserve day for the 'Super Four' matchup between India and Pakistan has received universal agreement, according to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket.

This decision, they claim, was only reached after all four cricket boards gave their approval. However, this doesn't sit well with Sri Lanka's head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, who refers to the decision as "surprising" and "not ideal."

Chris Silverwood, Sri Lanka's coach, also expressed his astonishment ahead of their Super 4 match. In response to their coaches statements, the BCB and SLC shockingly announced that the precautionary measure had indeed obtained unanimous support from all four teams participating in the Super 4 stage.

The statement by the BCB clarified, "We have implemented a reserve day for the India-Pakistan match in the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage, thereby altering the Asia Cup's playing condition. This decision was reached with the approval and consent of all four teams involved in the tournament and the ACC."

Then the Asian Cricket Council shared that the eagerly awaited India-Pakistan game, likely to be interrupted by rain on Sunday, could be migrated to Monday. Yet, if rain impacts the remaining matches in Sri Lanka's capital during the Super 4s, they will not be granted a reserve day.

However, the last-minute decision to assign a reserve day did not sit well with Hathurusingha. He commented, "This is less than ideal. In fact, we would have preferred an additional day as well... but they made the call without consulting us first. Had they done so, we would have shared our viewpoint."

Likewise, Coach Silverwood was also taken aback by ACC's decision to change the conditions of the game. Soon after the Bangladesh board, Sri Lanka Cricket also shared a rather similar post on its X profile.

"The reserve day for the India-Pakistan contest of the Super 11 Asia Cup Super 4 stage was taken in consultation with all four member boards of the Super 4 competing teams. Accordingly, the ACC effectively revised the playing conditions of the tournament to effect the agreed-upon change. #AsiaCup2023," it wrote.

The adverse weather conditions already caused the clash between the two teams to be cancelled during the Asia Cup's first fixture on September 2nd. Rain also showed up at India's inaugural international match with Nepal, although this time it didn't persist, allowing a 23-over chase that India successfully handled to secure a Super Four spot.

This decision has stirred controversy, with former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad labelling it as "shameful" on social media. He argued, "The decision is unethical, turning the tournament into a joke by treating different teams differently... I hope these manipulative plans don't succeed."

A Friday advisory from ACC also confirmed this decision. "If the clash between Pakistan and India is suspended due to bad weather, the game will resume on the 11th of September, 2023, at the exact point it was left. In this scenario, matchgoers are advised to retain their tickets, which will remain valid for the reserve day," read the notice.