IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023: Is India Afraid Of Losing - Former PCB Chief Questions After Refusal To Shift Venue

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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi has questioned if India is afraid of losing after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly switched venues within hours of deciding to shift the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 matches from Colombo to Hambantota.

Asia Cup 2023 has reached the Super 4 stage, which begins on Wednesday (September 6) with Pakistan taking on Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before the remainder of the tournament, including the final, is staged at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

However, reports earlier this week suggested that the matches in Colombo will be moved to either Hambantota or Dambulla after persistent rains caused flood like situation in the Island nation. In fact, reports on Tuesday (September 5), stated the Super 4 matches will be staged in Hambantota.

According to reports, the ACC had written to all the stake-holders that Asia Cup 2023 matches could be moved to Hambantota due to the threat of rain in Colombo. However, a couple of hours later it was reported that the matches will remain in Colombo.

After ACC went through plenty of back-and-forth before decisions before deciding that the Super 4 matches, including India vs Pakistan, will remain in Colombo, Sethi took a swipe that Team India and the BCCI are scared of losing to Pakistan and have objected to shifting the matches from Colombo.

"BCCI/ACC informed PCB today that they had decided to shift next India-Pak match from Colombo to Hambantota because of rain forecasts. Within one hour they changed their mind and announced Colombo as the venue. What's going on? Is India afraid to play and lose to Pakistan ? Look at the rain forecast!" Sethi shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Earlier in the first round group stage, India vs Pakistan match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Saturday (September 2) ended in no result after the second innings was washed out due to rain. In that match, India had scored 266 All Out in 49 overs.

Team India, however, confirmed their Super 4 berth following a 10-wicket win over Nepal in another rain-hit match in Kandy on Monday (September 4). Pakistan also qualified following the shared points with India, and win over Nepal in the tournament opener.

Now, India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match will take place at the originally scheduled venue of R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (September 10) instead of the reported venue of Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.