ACC President Jay Shah and SLC jointly declare prize fund of USD 50,000 for ground staff in Colombo and Kandy.

The Asia Cup 2023 has faced numerous rain interruptions, causing concerns among fans and organizers. The tournament underwent a change in plans due to India's reluctance to play in Pakistan, despite being initially slated to be hosted exclusively there. Consequently, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosted the Asia Cup, with India's matches taking place in Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately, the rain made its presence felt in Sri Lanka as well. The second match hosted in Kandy between India and Pakistan ended in a no-result due to incessant downpours. As the action shifted to Colombo, frequent rain interruptions became a recurring theme, testing the resilience of the ground staff.

However, the unsung heroes of cricket, the ground staff, rose to the occasion. They swiftly deployed heavy covers onto the field and employed innovative techniques to dry the pitch, ensuring that fans could witness their favorite stars in action. The curators also played a crucial role by preparing pitches that offered a balance between batting and bowling.

Jay Shah, the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), recognized the dedication of these groundsmen and curators. He aptly referred to them as the 'Unsung Heroes of Cricket.' In acknowledgment of their commendable work, Shah announced a well-deserved prize money of USD 50,000, which amounts to INR 41.5 lakh or 1.6 crore Sri Lankan rupees.

Let us look at the Tweet:

🏏🏟️ Big Shoutout to the Unsung Heroes of Cricket! 🙌

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are proud to announce a well-deserved prize money of USD 50,000 for the dedicated curators and groundsmen at Colombo and Kandy. 🏆

Their unwavering commitment and…

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 17, 2023

India needs 51 runs to win Asia Cup 2023

In their own territory, Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka were dominated by India's formidable pace attack. Led by Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka managed a mere 50 runs in 15.2 overs. Mohammed Siraj was the star, finishing with extraordinary figures of 6 wickets for 21 runs.

Along with that Hardik Pandya contributed with 3 wickets in his 2.2-over spell. Siraj also equaled Chaminda Vaas for the quickest five-wicket haul in just 16 balls. India's outstanding performance serves as a significant confidence boost ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup. It is now up to the Indian batting to score 51 runs to win the title of Asia Cup for the eighth time.