NEW DELHI: The former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, has launched a scathing critique of the Asia Cup scheduling following the disappointing washout of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match due to rain in Pallekele on Saturday.
Expressing his frustration, Sethi, who assumed the role of PCB chairman on an interim basis following Ramiz Raja's departure last year, expressed disappointment at the missed opportunity. He particularly took aim at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), alleging that his proposal to stage the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had been unjustly dismissed in favour of accommodating Sri Lanka as a co-host.
In a statement posted on his X account, Sethi remarked, "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 further criticised the reasons cited by the ACC for not holding the tournament in Dubai, stating, "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!"
The inclusion of Sri Lanka as co-hosts alongside original hosts Pakistan in a hybrid model was a response to India's refusal to play their Asia Cup matches in Pakistan due to ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations. Under this hybrid arrangement, four matches are slated to be played in Pakistan, with the remainder to be held in Sri Lanka.
1/10:Asia Cup: India, Pakistan blockbuster ends in no result
AFP
2/10:India vs Pakistan
<p>Rain forced a no result in the blockbuster Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan after just one innings of play on Saturday. </p>AP
3/10:Shaheen Shah Afridi
<p>Pakistan bowled out India for 266 in 48.5 overs with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 4-35, but no further play was possible due to persistent rain in Pallekele. </p>AFP
4/10:India won the toss
<p>India elected to bat in their opening match of the tournament but slipped to 66-4 after a devastating opening spell by left-arm quick Afridi. </p>AP
5/10:Wrecker-in-chief
<p>Afridi rattled the opposition top order, taking the key wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli -- both the batsmen bowled. </p>AP
6/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>Rohit swung Afridi for a couple of fours, but the pacer had his revenge on the first ball following a 33-minute stoppage to bowl the Indian captain for 11. </p>AP
7/10:Ripper!
<p>Afridi bowled to Rohit on a length around the off and the ball nipped back in to beat the opener's defence and rattled the off stump. </p>AP
8/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Afridi then silenced the largely Indian crowd with the wicket of Kohli (4), who inside-edged an incoming delivery onto his stumps. </p>AFP
9/10:Pak pacers
<p>Afridi got able support from fellow quicks Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, both of whom picked up three wickets each. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Haris Rauf
<p>Haris Rauf dismissed the returning Shreyas Iyer as India slipped to 48-3 and soon lost opener Shubman Gill for 10 after a second rain interval. </p>Getty ImagesComparatively, last year's Asia Cup was conducted in the UAE during a similar time frame but in the T20 format, with matches scheduled in the evening. Notably, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was also successfully staged in the UAE in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the ill-fated match on Saturday, only one innings was possible, with India managing to post a total of 266 runs in 48.5 overs. The match experienced several stoppages during the Indian innings, and even the toss was delayed, further adding to the frustration of cricket fans eager to witness this iconic clash.
(With inputs from PTI)
