India vs. Pakistan may be CANCELLED again

jatin

Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are once again facing the prospect of disappointment this upcoming weekend, as the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clashes in the Super 4 stage of the 2023 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, might succumb to the capricious rain. The cricketing community has already witnessed the frustration of a rained-out India vs. Pakistan Group A match, with only one innings completed on September 2 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.

As the Asia Cup 2023 resumes after a two-day hiatus on Saturday, the Super 4 stages and the final on September 17 are poised to unfold in the heart of Sri Lanka's capital city, Colombo. However, even here, the weather forecast doesn't offer much hope.

It appears that the wet weather has dogged Team India to the shores of Sri Lanka's capital. According to Accuweather, there's a disheartening 75 per cent chance of rain throughout the day on Sunday, September 10, during the India vs. Pakistan clash.

As the two captains, Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam, step out for the toss at 2:30 PM IST on Sunday afternoon, expect a gloomy scene with 99 percent cloud cover. The temperature will hover around 28 degrees Celsius, with humidity at approximately 77 percent.

As evening descends, the likelihood of rain increases to 80 percent, humidity surges to 89 percent, and cloud cover blankets the sky at 100 percent. In all probability, the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan could meet the same watery fate as the previous encounter.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board had petitioned the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to relocate the Super 4 games and the final to Hambantota, where the rainy season exerts far less influence at this time of the year. Regrettably, the request was promptly denied, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opposed the proposal.

In response to the unrelenting rainfall in Sri Lanka, Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chief, has reportedly reached out to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah, seeking compensation for the Asia Cup 2023 matches hosted in Sri Lanka. Ashraf's communication highlighted the significant shortfall in ticket sales due to the incessant downpours, prompting him to demand compensation.