Jay Shah breaks silence amid criticism regarding Asia Cup venues

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is under heavy scrutiny due to its choice of holding the Asia Cup during Sri Lanka's rainy season.

Today, Najam Sethi, the former Chairman of the PCB management committee, voiced his discontent on social media platform "X," criticizing the venue selection for the ongoing Asia Cup.

He disclosed that he had strongly urged the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to play the remaining matches of the Asia Cup in the UAE instead of Sri Lanka, as part of the hybrid model proposed by him during his tenure.

ACC President, Jay Shah, addressing the ongoing situation, provided insight into the decision taken to move Asia Cup 2023 out of Pakistan.

“All the full members, media rights holder, and in-stadia rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country," Shah said in the press release.

"In my capacity as ACC President, I was committed to finding a viable and mutually agreeable solution. To this end, I had accepted the hybrid model that was proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with the ACC management. However, it's important to note that the leadership of the PCB underwent several changes, and this resulted in some back-and-forth negotiations, particularly regarding crucial aspects such as tax exemption and insurance for matches."

"The Asia Cup 2022 edition was played in the UAE in the T20 format. It's important to emphasize that the dynamics of a T20 tournament cannot be directly compared to those of a 100-over One-day format. In this context, ACC members received feedback from their respective high-performance teams, expressing concerns about playing One-day matches in the UAE in the month of September. Such a schedule could have potentially led to player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries, particularly right before the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup."

"The decision-making process regarding the Asia Cup 2023 format and venue was guided by a sincere desire to prioritize the well-being of the players, as well as the overarching interests of the sport. Ultimately, the goal was to strike a balance that would allow for a competitive and successful tournament while ensuring the health and readiness of the participating teams for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.”