Cricket

'Paise ka pressure bnaya hoga' - Fans react as Venkatesh Prasad slam BAN, SL cricket boards for agreeing to have reserve day for IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 match

Venkatesh Prasad slammed BAN and SL cricket boards for agreeing reserve day exclusively for IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 match.

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Venkatesh Prasad

Venkatesh Prasad (Source: Twitter)

The Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) announcement of a reserve day exclusively for the India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 match has led to a flood of criticism from all quarters. The decision was taken keeping in mind the possibility of heavy rainfall on September 10, the originally scheduled date. The ACC stated that if rain interrupted the game on the initial day, it would resume from the point of suspension on the reserve day.

An IND vs. PAK match is always a blockbuster, given the prevailing geopolitical tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Notably, their previous encounter on September 2 was washed out due to rain. However, ACC's decision did not go down well with some former cricketers and fans, especially from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as they felt it was a biased decision from the Asian cricketing body.

Pakistan hosted the first match of the Super Fours and now all the remaining matches, including the final, will be played in Sri Lanka. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the second Super Fours match in Colombo on Sunday, but the weather forecast does not seem to allow a full game at the R Premadasa Stadium. This forced the Indian Cricket Board secretary Jay Shah-led ACC to announce a reserve day for the high-voltage encounter.

Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad is one of the prominent people who has raised his voice against this 'unethical' decision. He lashed out at the ACC for having different rules for two teams. "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 on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.

There were some reports suggesting that the other Super Fours teams - Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - were unhappy with the announcement. However, in a surprising turn of events, the cricket boards of the respective nations confirmed that the decision was taken after consultation with all four member boards of the Super 4 competing teams.

What was the pressure to agree: Venkatesh Prasad slams BCB and SLC 

Prasad wasn't impressed with the statements issued by BCB and SLC and asked them if there was any pressure to accept this ‘unreasonable demand’.

“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,” Prasad asked in his second tweet.

The India-Pakistan group-stage match at Pallekele was abandoned due to rain and the two teams had to share a point each. India's next match against Nepal was also hampered by rain and the second innings was reduced to 23 overs. India chased down their target of 145 runs with 10 wickets in hand and advanced to the Super Fours.

Here's how fans reacted to Venkatesh Prasad's tweet:  

pakistan India Asia Cup 2023 Venkatesh Prasad