The BCCI’s grandstanding and insistence on Sri Lanka as the principal host nation of this edition of the Asia Cup, despite the tournament being awarded to Pakistan has left Disney Star with wet mess on its hands in terms of extracting maximum value as host broadcaster.
The biggest complication in the ongoing Asia Cup has turned out to be rain, a fact that the powerbrokers in the Asian Cricket Council (read BCCI) were well aware of when the schedule was drawn up. The question still remains as to why the UAE was not chosen as the principal host country.
After the India vs Pakistan match in Group A was washed out in Kandy, a similar threat looms over Colombo which is set to host 5 out of 6 matches in the super four round and the final.
Colombo is just 120 kilomenters away from Kandy and is experiencing a similar level of weather – including the downpour factor – as Kandy.
Hence, organisers have no way but to consider the possibility that they may have to move the matches out of the city to avoid more washouts.
A report by PTI has said that three cities are under consideration to replace Colombo: Pallekele, Dambulla and Hambantota.
Whether or not the move will materialise depends on how the weather pattern evolves in the next few days.
