"Rules not same for all teams," Sarfraz questions Asia Cup schedule favouring India

India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup: As astonishing as it may sound but it is Pakistan and not India who are miffed with the scheduling of Asia Cup. On the eve of the big-ticket India-Pakistan Group A match, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed expressed his displeasure at the Indian team playing all its Asia Cup matches in Dubai while the others are being made to take the 90-minute trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

As astonishing as it may sound but it is Pakistan and not India who are miffed with the scheduling of Asia Cup. On the eve of the big-ticket India-Pakistan Group A match, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed expressed his displeasure at the Indian team playing all its Asia Cup matches in Dubai while the others are being made to take the 90-minute trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

Without taking into consideration the fact that India is the only team playing two back to back matches in the Asia Cup, Sarfraz surprisingly raised questions about the venue. "If you look at the schedule, even if India lose pool match, they still play in Dubai. Travelling is an issue. If you have to travel 90 minutes and then play matches with a gap of a single day, then it is challenging,” Sarfraz said.

The second-ranked team of Group A was supposed to play their first match super four stage at Abu Dhabi but a last-minute change in schedule, in all probability because of India’s successive group matches, ensured that India stay in Dubai irrespective of their standings in the group involving Hong Kong.

"If you look at the schedule, even if India lose pool match, they still play in Dubai. Travelling is an issue. If you have to travel 90 minutes and then play matches with a gap of a single day, then it is challenging.

"I believe it should have been the same for all the teams, irrespective of whether it is India or Pakistan. I don't know what was Asian Cricket Council's thought behind this. I think PCB is looking into the matter," said Sarfraz.

It is learnt that the BCCI, which is hosting the tournament, decided against the shuttling of venues keeping the commercial conditions in mind.

"The Dubai International Stadium has a capacity of 25,000 which is 5000 more than capacity of Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. For India versus Pakistan or India versus Bangladesh games, it is expected to be packed to capacity. BCCI is only getting the gate sales and how can we compromise on 5000 seats," a senior BCCI official present in Dubai told PTI on conditions of anonymity.