Cricket

'Chalo pura match to dekhne milega' - Fans react as Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours matches reportedly to relocate to Hambantota from Colombo

Reportedly, the 2023 Asia Cup Super Four matches will be shifted from Colombo to Hambantota due to poor weather conditions.

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Daniel S
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IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023

IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 (Source: Twitter)

The business end of the 2023 Asia Cup is set to be shifted to Hambantota as Colombo's destructive weather threatens to hamper the exciting matches ahead. Five of the six Super Fours matches were scheduled to be played in the Sri Lankan capital city, but the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is set to shift the venue due to prevailing weather conditions. There will be an official announcement regarding this soon.

The first Super 4s match will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 6 with Pakistan taking on the second-placed team in Group B. The same venue will also host the final Group B match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on Tuesday, September 5. The rest of the tournament, including the final on September 17, will be held entirely in Sri Lanka.

According to reports, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is likely to host the 5 Super Fours matches from September 9 to 15. The first match is between B1 and B2 on September 9, followed by a high-voltage thriller between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 10. Rohit Sharma's side played their final league match against Nepl on September 4 in Pallekele and will now head to Hambantota.

Both India's group matches were interrupted by rain

It has been learned that the conditions in Hambantota are much more favourable compared to Colombo. The Lankan capital has over a 50 percent chance of rain in the next 10 days, while the probability of rain is reportedly only 20 per cent in Hambantota. The Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium started hosting ODI matches in 2011 and recently hosted the first two matches of the three-match 50-over series between Pakistan and Afghanistan on 22 and 24 August.

The development comes after the tournament has already lost a lot of action due to bad weather. The blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan was called off after the first innings. As a result of rain playing spoilsport, both teams had to share a point each. India's second group match against Nepal was also interrupted by rain. The game was forced to be reduced to 23 overs and India won by 10 wickets as they comfortably chased down a target of 145.

Here's how fans reacted: 

 

Sri lanka Asia Cup 2023