The India vs. Pakistan Super Four match in the Asia Cup on September 10 has been scheduled with a reserve day, and it’s the only game, aside from the final, to have this provision. The PCB made this change to the playing conditions and advised spectators to retain their tickets in case the reserve day is needed.
Rain is a looming threat for the India vs. Pakistan match on Sunday, with a high chance of up to 90% precipitation. If the weather clears up, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s key bowler, may return to action after missing the Nepal match due to the birth of his child. Bumrah, recovering from a back injury, hasn’t had a chance to bowl in an ODI in the run-up to the World Cup next month. He made his ODI comeback last week in the Pakistan game but didn’t get a chance to bowl due to rain.
Pakistan started their Super 4 campaign with a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh on Wednesday. If the remaining Super 4 matches are washed out, Pakistan will advance to the final with four points. In the case of washouts, Sri Lanka and India will both have three points and the same Net Run Rate, so a coin toss will determine which team plays in the final. Bangladesh, having already lost one Super Four game, will only have two points and won’t be in contention for the final. If the Asia Cup 2023 final on September 17 is also washed out, the trophy will be shared.
‘Is India afraid?’
On Wednesday, former PCB chairman Najam Sethi posted screenshots of the weather forecasts of Colombo and Hambantota — a city in southern Sri Lanka— on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and questioned whether the decision to hold Pak-India matches in Colombo was driven by fear of defeat. He said: “BCCI/ACC informed PCB today that they had decided to shift the next India-Pak match from Colombo to Hambantota because of rain forecasts. Within one hour they changed their mind and announced Colombo as the venue. What’s going on? Is India afraid to play and lose to Pakistan? Look at the rain forecast!” (DAWN)
Remaining Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 matches:
- Sept 9 – Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 10 – Pakistan vs. India in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 12 – India vs. Sri Lanka in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 14 – Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
- Sept 15 – India vs. Bangladesh in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
Asia Cup 2023 Final:
- Sept 17 – Final in Colombo at 2:30 pm (PST)
