'These Players Would Have Been Finished': Ravi Shastri Defends Decision to Not Shift 2023 Asia Cup to UAE

The ongoing Asia Cup 2023 continues to be heavily impacted by inclement weather with India vs Pakistan clash in Super Four stage being called off on Sunday and being forced to move to reserve day. This is the second time in the ongoing tournament that an India-Pakistan match has been effected by rain with their group clash earlier this month being washed out in Pallekele.

India’s second group B clash against Nepal was also curtailed by rain.

The event was originally scheduled to be played in Pakistan but with BCCI’s refusal to send their team across the border, it’s being played in hybrid model for the first time in its history.

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With the weather continuing to have its say on match outcomes, questions are being raised why UAE wasn’t chosen as an alternative venue like last year when the tourney was shifted from Sri Lanka.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has defended the decision citing the hot UAE weather would have been unbearable during this time of the year especially with the Asia Cup is being held in the one-day format unlike last year.

“If you actually see at this moment in time, there is rain everywhere,” Shastri said on Star Sports. “You know, there was talk about that it could have been played in Dubai. Dubai is so hot, for a 50-over game, these players would have been finished. It’s unforeseen circumstances, it’s a calamity that can happen naturally. You look at Bangladesh, northern India, Mumbai, coastline of India… there is rain everywhere.”

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram backed Shastri’s defense, arguing that controlling rain is something that isn’t the hands of the organisers.

“I know it’s frustrating for the players and the fans back home in India, Pakistan and worldwide as well but this thing you cannot control. A lot of people are criticising a lot of people regarding the Asia Cup but this decision has been made. There is not point criticising now, nothing can happen. A lot of people say it should have been played in Pakistan. We can discuss this topic but it’s not our job,” Akram said.

Midway through the tournament though, there were reports of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) planning to shift the remaining matches to Hambantota with more rain forecast in Colombo.