After a year of uncertainty, cricket’s El Clasico between India and Pakistan prepares for a summer of familiarity, starting with the Asia Cup and ending with the World Cup.
The Asia Cup is unquestionably an important tournament for these two titans, who are expected to do well in the World Cup, which is approaching quickly. (Twitter)
In order to cover the 2023 Asia Cup, writer Venkata Krishna B is currently in Pallekele.
The view of Colombo from above is obscured by dense, dark, and shifting clouds that have moved in from the Indian Ocean. The Island nation, whose topography resembles a teardrop, is a different nation today. Though certain wounds may still be present, the protracted civil war is over, and the economic crisis of last year has subsided. There is no commotion as there was when Australia arrived on these shores last year; you don’t see people lined up outside of food stores or gas stations.
Instead, the Bandaranaike International Airport is bustling with Southeast Asians and Europeans, which is optimistic for an economy that depends on tourism. On the streets, there are no honks, few traffic lights, and an absence of subcontinental discipline. The biggest festival in the nation, Poya, is nearing its conclusion and will end on Wednesday. Even in the three and a half-hour trip from Colombo to Pallekele, where the Sri Lanka leg of the Asia Cup starts on Thursday, the typical flair and colour you associate with the nation is missing.
