Colombo: Persistent rain has plagued the Asia Cup tournament in Sri Lanka, with India and Pakistan suffering the most disruptions. In the latest setback, heavy rainfall in Colombo forced the Super Four clash between these arch-rivals to be postponed to the reserve day (Monday).
This isn’t the first time weather woes have interfered with India-Pakistan encounters in the tournament. Their previous group stage meeting also ended without a result due to rain. Only one inning could be completed during that match, with the second inning being entirely washed out.
Anticipated rain threatened to disrupt Sunday’s game, but surprisingly, it began under sunny skies, raising hopes of a full 50-over contest. However, midway through India’s innings, after they were invited to bat by Pakistan, an intense rain spell halted proceedings, ultimately preventing any further play.
When play resumes on Monday, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will pick up the action with India at 147/2 in 24.1 overs. The match will maintain its status as a 50-over contest. For India, sharing the points with Pakistan again would be a significant setback, especially as Pakistan has already secured a Super Four victory by defeating Bangladesh. They currently top the table with a net run-rate of +1.051.
In contrast, India is playing their first Super Four match and will aim for a positive start, building on the strong foundation Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid. Both openers notched half-centuries and contributed 121 runs for the opening partnership, setting a solid platform for their team.