With Colombo witnessing heavy rains over the last few days, the Asian Cricket Council is deliberating a shift in the venue for the Super 4 stages of the Asia Cup. The Indian Express understands that the teams have been apprised of the situation in Sri Lanka’s capital and Pallekele and Dambulla are understood to be looked at as alternate options.
The ongoing Asia Cup which is being played in a hybrid model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka has the all important Super 4 stage coming up starting next week. The event hosted by Pakistan is also being played in Sri Lanka after India’s refusal to cross the LOC. As previously reported by this newspaper, when ACC zeroed in on Sri Lanka as the second venue, Sri Lanka Cricket had suggested they would host the event in Dambulla, which is a dry region in the central part of the country.
However with the broadcasters and teams showing reluctance to travel to Dambulla, Pallekele and Colombo were picked as venues. However with this being monsoon season in the island both these places have been witnessing heavy rainfall over the past five days. Even Saturday’s match between India and Pakistan in Pallekele was washed out.
While there was hope that the situation could change in Colombo, the recent rains in the capital city are now forcing the ACC to rethink. Although the first match in Colombo is only on September 9, the ACC is concerned about the weather forecast that doesn’t seem very promising. Sri Lanka doesn’t usually host matches in September beyond the first week of the month because of wet conditions and in case the Super 4 stages go ahead in Colombo, it would be on the mercy of the rain gods.
With two more matches remaining in Pakistan, the ACC is likely to take a final call on the venue over the next 24-48 hours. Keeping the tournament in Pallekele also comes with the risk of rain.
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