A reserve day for just India vs Pakistan Super 4 game had not gone down well with many but former Sri Lanka cricketer Charith Senanayake not only harshly criticised the decision but also alleged that the Asia Cup 2023 appears fixed.
Senanayake who was the chairman of the technical committee for the 2022 Asia Cup has highlighted how the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to have a reserve day just for their game against India could boomerang on them.
The weather forecast for the day when Pakistan plays Sri Lanka in Colombo shows rain and speaking about it the 60-year-old said, "If Pakistan-Sri Lanka game is washed out both teams will get one point each. In that scenario, on the basis of a better net run rate Sri Lanka will go through and Pakistan will be out. That's because you don't have an additional reserve day and that's very unfortunate. So the decision which apparently PCB made could boomerang on it"
He went on to accuse PCB of bringing the tournament under scanner. He said if only one board gets to have reserve day for a match then there is a big question mark on the authenticity of the event.
Further questioning how every time India and Pakistan have 2 clashes minimum in a tournament, Senanayake said 'the draws appear fixed because everyone was trying for an India vs Pakistan final. He said that the Asian Cricket Council only makes money through India and Pakistan it seems.
India after winning against Pakistan and Sri Lanka entered the Asia Cup 2023 final, for Pakistan the road looks tough as it is placed at the 3rd spot in the table, above them are Sri Lanka who have a better NRR.