SL vs BAN: Venkatesh Prasad Questions SLC And BCB Over Accepting Reserve Day For India-Pakistan Match In Asia Cup 2023

Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad criticized the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for giving extra importance to the India-Pakistan Super Four match in the Asia Cup 2023. Prasad strongly reacted to the organizers’ decision to keep a reserve day specifically for the India-Pakistan match.

The ACC decided to allocate a reserve day for the contest between neighbouring nations due to the rain threat on Sunday, September 10. The ACC clarified that if the match was interrupted by rain on the scheduled match day, it would resume from the point of suspension on the reserve day.

The Super Four stages of the ongoing Asia Cup began with the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Babar Azam-led team registered a 7-wicket victory in Lahore on September 6. The remaining matches of the continental event, including the final game, will be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This Is Absolute Shamelessness – Venkatesh Prasad

Venkatesh Prasad took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his thoughts on having the reserve day for the India-Pakistan encounter in the Super Four stages. Prasad called the move “absolutely shameless,” “a mockery,” and “unethical.”

“If true this is absolute shamelessness this. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams. In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the second day and these malicious plans not succeed,” Prasad wrote.

If true this is absolute shamelessness this. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams.
In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the… https://t.co/GPQGmdo1Zx

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023

What Was The Pressure To Agree – Venkatesh Prasad

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on their X handles confirmed the decision was taken after consulting them. Venkatesh Prasad reacted to the statements, questioning whether there was ‘pressure’ to agree to the ‘reserve day’ demand.

“What was the pressure to agree to this unreasonable demand?” Prasad replied to the BCB handle.

“What was the pressure to agree on this unreasonable demand, when you aren’t getting a reserve day for your own matches ? Why so much generosity to ensure India vs Pakistan isn’t washed out even if it costs your own team a chance to qualify. Can you please explain truly the intent and reason to do so?” he replied to SLC handle.

Also read: ICC World Cup 2023: Venkatesh Prasad Speaks On ODI World Cup Ticket Crisis, Says ‘I Urge BCCI To Have More Transparency’