Heavy rains continue to impact the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 with the highly-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in Super Four stage also being called off on Sunday (September 10) and being forced to move to the reserve day.
Notably, it was for the second time in the ongoing continental tournament that a clash between the arch-rivals was affected by rain as the group clash between the two sides on September 2 being washed out in Pallekele.
Meanwhile, India’s second group game against newcomers Nepal was also affected by rain.
Thought the tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Pakistan however, the BCCI denied to send the Men In Blue to the neighbouring nation following which it was decided to stage the event in a hybrid model.
In such a scenario, several questions were raised as to why UAE wasn’t chosen as an alternative venue like last year when the weather forecast was not favourable in Sri Lanka.
However, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the decision citing the hot weather in the UAE and said that the current weather would have been unbearable during this time of the year especially with the Asia Cup being played in the ODI format unlike 2022.
“If you actually see at this moment in time, there is rain everywhere,” Shastri said on Star Sports.
“You know, there was talk about that it could have been played in Dubai. Dubai is so hot, for a 50-over game, these players would have been finished. It’s unforeseen circumstances, it’s a calamity that can happen naturally. You look at Bangladesh, northern India, Mumbai, coastline of India… there is rain everywhere,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan legendary pacer Wasim Akram also backed Shastri and said that controlling rain is something that isn’t the hands of the organisers.
“I know it’s frustrating for the players and the fans back home in India, Pakistan and worldwide as well but this thing you cannot control. A lot of people are criticising a lot of people regarding the Asia Cup but this decision has been made. There is not point criticising now, nothing can happen. A lot of people say it should have been played in Pakistan. We can discuss this topic but it’s not our job,” Akram said.