Asia Cup 2023: Venue for Final and Super-4 matches may be shifted due to rains
Though the first match in Colombo is on Sept 9, the ACC is concerned about the weather forecast that doesn’t seem very promising.
With Colombo witnessing heavy rains over the last few days, the venue for the Asia Cup 2023 Final and Super-4 matches is likely to be shifted to Pallekele.
Dambula is also being considered as the venue for the Super-4 matches and the final but Pallekele remains the favourite to host these matches, according to a report in India Today. As per the weather department, there will be incessant rains in Colombo for the next few days, which is the reason why Asian Cricket Council (ACC) may shift the matches to either Pallekele or Dambula.
ACC has been forced to think about the upcoming Super-4 matches and the final after India’s match against Pakistan ended in a no-result due to rain. As of now, Lahore is set to host the first Super-4 match while the other five matches are scheduled to be hosted in Colombo, along with the final on September 17. Though the first match in Colombo is only on September 9, the ACC is concerned about the weather forecast that doesn’t seem very promising. However, shifting the venue to Pallekele also comes with the risk of rain.
The 2023 Asia Cup is being played under a hybrid model, where four matches will be hosted by Pakistan and nine by Sri Lanka. Following the group stage, two teams from Group A and Group B will qualify for the Super-4 stage, where they will be involved in another round-robin stage. The two toppers of the Super-4 stage will face each other in the final on September 17.
India's match against Pakistan was abandoned after rain played spoilsport in Pallekele on Saturday. The two teams shared points but Pakistan moved to the Super 4 thanks to their victory over Nepal in the first match of the 2023 Asia Cup on August 30.
The Super 4 stage will start from September 6 and Pakistan will travel to Lahore for their first Super 4 match. The group stage will end on September 5. India will next face Nepal in an almost must-win match on Monday (September 4) in Pallekele.
