ICC is toothless: Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga criticises international physique over Asia Cup Reserve Day row

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga lashed out on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for being ‘toothless’, expressing his disappointment over the scheduling of Asia Cup 2023. The resolution of ACC to fit in a Reserve Day for the Super 4s match between India and Pakistan has garnered criticism.

The unique Asia Cup 2023 scheduled had a Reserve Day scheduled just for the ultimate. However, because of inclement climate circumstances in Colombo, the ACC introduced a Reserve Day for the marquee Super 4s conflict on September 10. As anticipated, rain allowed solely 24.1 overs of play on Sunday and the sport moved to the Reserve Day, permitting India to clinch a 228-run win over their arch-rivals.

Notably, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh head coaches had expressed concern over the sudden slotting of the Reserve Day, however each the boards mentioned in an announcement later that the choice to allot the additional day for India vs Pakistan was taken after consulting with all of the boards at Asia Cup 2023.

” “ICC is a toothless tiger. They act very unprofessionally. I feel they’re those who ought to defend cricket. Ultimately cricket needs to be managed by ICC and never by a rustic. In Asia Cup, you had guidelines and also you modified guidelines for one sport. So the place is ACC? Where is ICC?,” Ranatunga said, as quoted by PTI news agency.

“So I can’t be stunned if, for the World Cup, they’ve a separate rule for Indo-Pak sport. This is unhealthy. India is highly effective, little question however then ICC officers are fairly snug, comfortable placing on a coat and tie and hanky and going to conferences,” he added.

Ranatunga said changing rules of a tournament to suit one or two teams would put the game in jeopardy, and slammed ICC and ACC for inaction.

“I’m not very snug when you’ve gotten a match, the place you alter guidelines for one crew. You are a catastrophe sooner or later,” the World Cup winning skipper fumed.

“I really feel very unhappy for ICC and ACC as a result of they only wish to maintain the positions. Former cricketers too do not open, just because they want the bucks,” he said.

WHY POOR SCHEDULING IS ALLOWED?

In a sarcastic tone, said he would not be surprised if India’s World Cup match against Pakistan at Ahmedabad gets a reserve day.

“I will not be stunned if they modify the rule earlier than the India-Pakistan sport (in World Cup). ICC will maintain their mouth shut and say ‘OK, do it’. ICC simply talks garbage, nothing occurs,” he mentioned.

Ranatunga mentioned world cricket shouldn’t be ruled by one board or particular person, and cited the Asia Cup scheduling subject as a working example.

“Why do the other countries allow that (poor scheduling) to happen? Because the BCCI is powerful, or one particular person is powerful. No, it can’t happen like that. They should have given an extra day for all the games if that was the case,” Ranatunga mentioned. (WITH PTI Inpuits)

Published On:

Sep 16, 2023