Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood weren't happy at all with chairman Jay Shah-led Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) decision to keep a reserve day only for India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 stage match on Sunday (September 10). Now, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have said in a statement that the reserve day for blockbuster India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 match was added after consultation with all teams -- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh -- competing in Super 4 stage of the continental tournament.
"A reserve day for India Pakistan contest in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage has been added that effectively revised the Asia Cup playing condition. To clarify on the position, the decision was taken with the consent of all four participating teams and ACC," tweeted the BCB.
SLC also tweeted, "The reserve day for the India-Pakistan contest of the Asia Cup Super 4 stage was taken in consultation with all four member boards of the Super 4 competing teams. Accordingly, the ACC effectively revised the playing conditions of the tournament to effect the agreed-upon change. #AsiaCup2023."
Earlier, on Friday, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced a reserve day (Monday, September 11) for India-Pakistan Super 4 clash, in case rain forces match to be called off on Sunday.
Not holding back, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingha said:
"There is a technical committee (in Asia Cup) represented by every participating country – six nations. They might have decided it for some other reason. It is not ideal as we also would have liked to have an extra day," the Bangladesh coach said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
"But I don't have any more comment on this because they have already made a decision. If they had consulted us earlier, we would have given our opinion," he added.
Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood, said:
"Yeah! Look, obviously, I was a little surprised when I heard it first. But we don't organise the competition, so we can't do a whole lot about it, right? I haven't seen this kind of thing in another tournament, this changing rules in the middle of the tournament," Silverwood said.
"To be honest, I see it only becoming a problem if it provides points to the teams, and affects us," he added.