Former Sri Lankan cricketer Charith Senanayake, who chaired the technical committee for the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai and Sharjah, expressed shock at the last-minute introduction of a reserve day for the India-Pakistan Super Four match. He believes this decision, influenced by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), could backfire if the Sri Lanka-Pakistan match is also affected.
Senanayake emphasized that changing playing conditions mid-tournament without unanimous agreement is unfair. He pointed out that if the Sri Lanka-Pakistan match ends in a washout, both teams would get one point each. In such a scenario, Sri Lanka would advance based on a superior run rate, potentially leading to Pakistan’s elimination.
He questioned the tournament’s authenticity and whether games might have been influenced to favor an India-Pakistan final. Senanayake also noted the financial motives behind such matchups and questioned the silence of other cricket boards, suggesting that money played a significant role in these decisions.
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Although no longer associated with Sri Lanka Cricket, Senanayake is now part of the National Technical Committee in his country and runs a business. He clarified past disagreements with Muttiah Muralitharan, emphasizing that these were professional rather than personal. He expressed his straightforward nature and willingness to ask questions.
Regarding cricket, Senanayake considered India as favorites for both the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup due to their deep bench strength, including players like Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur. He predicted a strong performance by India in the World Cup, especially when playing in their home conditions.