Did the players oppose playing the Asia Cup Super 4 matches in Hambantota?

vashuotwal

The Colombo leg of the Asia Cup 2023 is set to kick off on Saturday with Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh at the R Premadas Stadium, followed by the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match on Sunday. However, a significant concern looms over these matches due to Colombo's unfavorable weather forecast. In fact, heavy rainfall is predicted not only for this weekend but also for the upcoming week, during which India will play Sri Lanka, followed by Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, India vs. Bangladesh, and ultimately the final on September 17.

Due to the tight schedule, a reserve day could only be allocated for the India vs. Pakistan match and the final. While this decision has faced considerable criticism, another question arises: Why were the matches not relocated from Colombo? There were extensive discussions after the group stages. In fact, according to reports, the Asian Cricket Council was close to deciding to move the remainder of the tournament to Hambantota instead of Colombo. However, this decision was swiftly reversed, and the ACC announced that the original schedule would remain unchanged.
But why did this reversal occur? Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar speculated that it was likely the players who opposed playing matches in Hambantota, which lacks the amenities and facilities of Colombo.

Gavaskar stated, "Well, somebody should find the real story. It appears from a cricketing perspective that it was probably the players who didn't want to go to Hambantota." He clarified that when he mentioned players, he was not referring to players from any specific country but rather players from all participating teams.

Gavaskar also expressed sympathy for administrators, acknowledging that they often bear the brunt of criticism from fans who miss out on quality cricket due to adverse weather conditions. He emphasized the importance of understanding why, despite knowing Colombo's unfavorable weather forecast, the matches were not moved to Hambantota.

While Gavaskar is not opposed to modern-day players having a say in match scheduling, he also called for their flexibility in unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather. Rain could once again disrupt the India-Pakistan clash on September 10, as the first game between these arch-rivals was abandoned due to rain.