IND vs PAK: PCB Chief Zaka Ashraf Seeks Compensation From ACC President Jay Shah Over Asia Cup 2023 Losses - Reports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed disappointment over the schedule of the ongoing Asia Cup matches being held in Sri Lanka. As per reports, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf has asked for compensation from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to cover the financial losses.

The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan ended without a result as the rain played spoilsport in Pallekele. The India-Nepal match was also affected by the weather. However, the Rohit Sharma-led team registered a victory in the rain-curtailed game at the same venue.

Zaka Ashraf has written a letter to the ACC in response to the adverse impact of inclement weather on key matches such as India vs. Pakistan. The PCB chief criticised the ACC’s decision to keep matches in Colombo instead of moving to Hambantota without consulting other board members.

In The Meeting It Was Agreed – Zaka Ashraf

As per the letter, a meeting among ACC members took place following India’s victory over Nepal in Pallekele earlier in the week. Ashraf said that it was unanimously agreed to relocate matches to Hambantota from Colombo, considering the favourable weather forecast.

“In the meeting, it was agreed that since the forecast is that Hambantota would remain dry the matches in Colombo should be moved there,” Ashraf has written as per the news agency PTI.

The ACC has officially released the schedule of the continental tournament, confirming that Colombo will host the remaining games. Super Four matches do not have reserve days. The final match of the tournament will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium on September 17.

Earlier, ACC President Jay Shah defended the tournament’s scheduling, citing concerns related to security and the economic situation in Pakistan.

Committed To Finding A Viable And Mutually Agreeable Solution – Jay Shah

“All the full members, media rights holders, and in-stadium 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,” Shah said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

Also read: Asia Cup 2023: Super 4 Matches To Be Shifted? Zaka Ashraf Responds