The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly demanded compensation from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for the financial losses incurred due to the relocation of Asia Cup matches to Sri Lanka. The PCB claims that the change in venue has resulted in significant financial setbacks and is now seeking restitution.
While the PCB has not issued an official statement on the matter, media reports suggest that the board’s chairman, Zaka Ashraf, has sent a formal letter to ACC president Jay Shah, outlining the demand for compensation. In the letter, Ashraf expressed his disappointment with how the scheduling of matches in Sri Lanka was handled by the ACC.
The PCB chief has also raised questions about who was responsible for the last-minute decisions to shift venues without consulting other ACC board members. Ashraf’s letter alludes to a meeting between ACC members from Sri Lanka and Pakistan after the India vs. Nepal match.
“In the meeting, it was agreed that since the forecast indicated that Hambantota would remain dry, the matches in Colombo should be moved there,” Ashraf wrote in his letter.
According to the letter, on September 5, both host countries and the ACC decided to move matches to Hambantota, and Sri Lanka’s head curator was tasked with preparing the pitches. The broadcast crew also began making arrangements to move to Hambantota. The ACC sent an email to the PCB confirming the decision, with a press release to announce the venue shift.
However, Ashraf expressed surprise that, after some time, the PCB was told to disregard the email, and later it was announced that the matches would be held as per the original schedule in Kandy and Colombo.
Ashraf’s letter further conveys the displeasure of the PCB regarding how Pakistan was seemingly ignored in key decisions related to the tournament and venues.
The demand for compensation reflects the PCB’s concerns over the financial implications of the venue change for the Asia Cup. As discussions continue regarding restitution and financial ramifications, cricket enthusiasts and stakeholders will closely monitor the situation’s developments and its impact on the tournament’s future.