Last Update on: September 5th, 2023 at 05:47 pm
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Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah issued a bold statement on why the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 didn’t take place in UAE. He revealed that scheduling a tournament in the Gulf tournament could’ve led to player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries ahead of the ICC World Cup.
The rains in Sri Lanka have yet again raised questions over the venue of the Asia Cup 2023. The much-anticipated game between India and Pakistan was washed out and also the weather curtailed the game between India and Nepal.
Many experts have lashed out at the ACC for scheduling tournaments in island nations especially knowing the weather. Jay Shah in particular has been at the receiving end of the flak and even former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi pointed out that he urged the ACC President to host tournaments in Pakistan and UAE.
Jay Shah issued a full statement, stating that all the members along with media rights holders were hesitant to host the entire tournament in Pakistan. He pointed out that keeping all things in mind he accepted the hybrid model and also there were some changes.
He explained: “All the full members, media rights holders, and in-stadia rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country. In my capacity as ACC President, I was committed to finding a viable and mutually agreeable solution.
“To this end, I had accepted the hybrid model that was proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with the ACC management. However, it’s important to note that the leadership of the PCB underwent several changes, and this resulted in some back-and-forth negotiations, particularly regarding crucial aspects such as tax exemption and insurance for matches.”
Asia Cup 2023: Could Have Potentially Led To Player Fatigue – Jay Shah Issues Statement On Why Tournament Didn’t Happen In UAE
Jay Shah added that ACC members weren’t keen to play in UAE as the 50-over format is a completely different ball game. He added that they took the decision to host the tournament in Sri Lanka keeping in mind the well-being of the players.
He elaborated: “The Asia Cup 2022 edition was played in the UAE in the T20 format. It’s important to emphasize that the dynamics of a T20 tournament cannot be directly compared to those of a 100-over One-day format. In this context, ACC members received feedback from their respective high-performance teams, expressing concerns about playing One-day matches in the UAE in the month of September.
“Such a schedule could have potentially led to player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries, particularly right before the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup. The decision-making process regarding the Asia Cup 2023 format and venue was guided by a sincere desire to prioritize the well-being of the players, as well as the overarching interests of the sport.
“Ultimately, the goal was to strike a balance that would allow for a competitive and successful tournament while ensuring the health and readiness of the participating teams for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” he concluded.