Asia Cup 2023 Super 4: India vs. Pakistan Match in Colombo Faces Cancellation Due to Weather Conditions
The much-anticipated Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place in Colombo, is under threat of cancellation due to unfavorable weather conditions. The forecast for Sunday afternoon, when team captains Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam are expected to come out for the toss at 2:30 pm IST, predicts a 99% cloud cover with a temperature of around 28 degrees and humidity at 77%.
As the day progresses, the weather conditions are expected to worsen. By evening, the chances of rain increase to 80%, with humidity rising to 89% and a complete cloud cover. Given these circumstances, there is a high likelihood that the match could be washed out without any result.
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board had previously proposed to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to relocate the Super 4 games and the final to Hambantota, where the chances of rain are significantly lower during this time of the year. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not agree to this request, and it was subsequently rejected within a few hours.
In response to the ongoing weather issues, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has reportedly written to ACC president Jay Shah, seeking compensation for the Asia Cup 2023 matches being held in Sri Lanka. Ashraf stated in his letter that the continuous rainfall in Sri Lanka has led to lower ticket sales than anticipated, hence the demand for compensation.
Cricket fans worldwide are bracing themselves for potential disappointment as the India vs Pakistan clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday faces a high risk of being washed out due to rain. The Group A match between the two teams had already been disrupted by rain on September 2 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy, with only one innings being possible.
The Super 4 stages and the final, scheduled for September 17, are set to take place in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. However, the weather forecast for the city does not look promising. According to the Accuweather website, there is a 75% chance of rain throughout the day on Sunday, further jeopardizing the India vs Pakistan clash.
