The Sri Lanka leg of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 has been marred with rain in Pallekele so far in the group stage. As the tournament heads to the Super Four stage, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is set to shift the upcoming matches to Hambantota from Colombo to avoid any rain threat in the knockouts.
India's matches in the group stage were affected by the rain including the washed-out match against Pakistan in Pallekel on Saturday.
Colombo's R.Premadasa Stadium was set to host the five Super Four matches and the summit clash on September 17. All these six matches will now take place in Hambantota, Cricbuzz reported. All teams have been informed about this change and the official announcement will be made soon.
India, who are based in Pallekele, will move to Hambantota to play their Super Four match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 10.
For the next 10 days, the precipitation chances in Colombo go beyond 50 per cent while with only 20 per cent rain prediction, Hambantota is a more feasible option to host matches in this monsoon season. The first Super Four game will be played in Sri Lanka between the qualifying teams from Group B on Saturday, September 9 which will them ample time to make the logistical adjustments to the schedule.
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Recently, Pakistan played a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at Hambantota before the start of the Asia Cup.
Earlier, former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi criticised ACC for staging the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka over UAE.
"I proposed that we play five matches in Pakistan and eight in the UAE. This also they rejected and hinted at giving the Asia Cup hosting rights to Sri Lanka if we didn't budge," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"BCCI refused to accept their request. Only Mr (Jay) Shah can explain why these options were rejected and why Sri Lanka was accommodated against all reason, logic, and rationality. The choice of venues in Sri Lanka was also problematic as we have seen," he added.
India and Pakistan have reached the Super Fours while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are still in the fray for the final two spots. The final of the tournament will be played on September 17.