It's a very strange Asia Cup 2023 schedule: Salman Butt

In a surprising turn of events, the revelation of the Asia Cup schedule has sparked controversy and concerns about the players' well-being. Salman Butt, former Pakistan captain, has strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for neglecting Pakistan's welfare in the tournament.

The upcoming Asia Cup, jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the first time in its history, has drawn attention due to its unconventional schedule. India will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan's itinerary has raised eyebrows.

As per the released schedule, Pakistan's inaugural match in Group A will be held in Lahore, followed by a swift journey to Sri Lanka for their highly awaited showdown against India in Kandy, with a mere two-day gap between the two fixtures. Adding to the arduous agenda, if Pakistan qualifies for the Super Four stage, they will once again return to home soil for the game before jetting back to Sri Lanka.

Salman Butt expressed his dissatisfaction with the scheduling, emphasising the lack of reprieve and adequate preparation for the Pakistan team. He criticised the stark disparity in treatment compared to Sri Lanka's schedule, where the team enjoys a more reasonable 4-5 days interval between their matches when travelling to Pakistan for their second game.

“It's a very strange schedule. Pakistan are playing their first match in Pakistan; then they will travel to Sri Lanka for the second match. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will play their first match in their home, and when they have to travel to Pakistan for the second game, they have a 4-5 days gap, Pakistan, who are originally the host nation, have only got two days gap. We never cared about our players,” Butt expressed with exasperation, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The outcomes of the first round will have no impact on the tournament's ranking system, according to a statement issued by Jay Shah, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Regardless of how the sides perform, Pakistan and India will both continue to hold the ranks of A1 and A2, respectively. Nepal will step in to take the place of any of the two teams if they are unable to advance to the next phase.

Likewise, in Group B, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will retain their positions as B1 and B2, and if either of these teams fail to advance to the Super Fours, Afghanistan will be the replacement.

The present scheduling controversy has brought the need for fair treatment and consideration of players' physical and mental well-being during cricket tournaments into the spotlight. Butt's outspoken criticism mirrors the concerns shared by numerous cricket enthusiasts, who believe that the PCB should prioritise the well-being of its players and offer a more balanced and player-friendly schedule.

Ultimately, what holds utmost significance is the spirit of the game and the welfare of the players, and the cricketing world will be observing closely to witness how this contentious issue unfolds in the buildup to the Asia Cup.