Cricket enthusiasts worldwide may be in for more disappointment this weekend as the India vs. Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 stage, scheduled for Sunday at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, faces the threat of rain. This much-anticipated encounter follows the already rain-affected India vs. Pakistan Group A match, where only one innings was possible on September 2 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.
As the Asia Cup 2023 resumes after a two-day break on Saturday, the Super 4 stages and the final on September 17 are all set to unfold in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. However, the weather forecast for Colombo is far from promising.
Wet conditions appear to have followed Team India to the Sri Lankan capital. According to AccuWeather, there is a 75 percent chance of rain throughout the day on Sunday (September 10) for the India vs. Pakistan clash. As the two captains, Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam, step out for the toss at 2:30 PM IST, there will be 99 percent cloud cover, with temperatures hovering around 28 degrees and humidity at 77 percent.
By evening, the chances of rain increase to 80 percent, humidity rises to 89 percent, and cloud cover reaches 100 percent. Consequently, the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan may also be at risk of being washed out without a result.
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board had requested the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to move the Super 4 games and the final to Hambantota, where the likelihood of rain is significantly lower during this time of the year. However, this request was swiftly declined, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressing disagreement.
Reports suggest that PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has reached out to ACC president Jay Shah, seeking compensation for the Asia Cup 2023 matches being held in Sri Lanka. In his email, Ashraf cites the incessant rainfall in Sri Lanka, resulting in significantly lower-than-expected ticket sales, as the basis for his compensation request.
