The anticipation has reached its culmination, and cricket fans can now watch Asia Cup 2023 in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the imminent clash between India and Pakistan in Group A, a pivotal fixture of the Asia Cup 2023, is teetering on uncertainty.
Scheduled to take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the match is under the looming shadow of persistent rainfall, which presents a substantial threat to its realization.
Over the past 48 hours, heavy downpours have inundated Pallekele, fueling concerns among fans who can’t wait to watch the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 in New Zealand about the match’s fate.
Looking ahead, for Saturday (September 2, 2023 ), the designated date for the high-stakes clash between India and Pakistan, the situation appears increasingly grim as the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 match may get washed out due to rain.
According to various weather applications, the prospects for Saturday’s match appear exceedingly dim, with the minimum projected precipitation likelihood hovering at 90%. These conditions doubt the feasibility of hosting the match unless an unforeseen event occurs.
Pallekele, a seasoned host of 33 ODIs, has only witnessed three matches staged between August and September. This fact underscores Sri Lanka’s deliberate avoidance of cricket fixtures during this timeframe.
The Asian Cricket Council found itself compelled to adopt a hybrid approach when it became evident that India would not receive the necessary government clearance to travel to Pakistan, the original sole host of the tournament. Despite weather forecasts, most Asia Cup 2023 matches had to be relocated to Sri Lanka.
Preceding the high-stakes India vs. Pakistan Group A clash scheduled for Saturday, the Sri Lankan home team is poised to launch their Asia Cup campaign against Bangladesh in a Group B encounter at the same venue on Thursday.
However, the looming threat of rain and a saturated outfield doubt the match’s continuity. The persistent rainfall over the preceding three days has hampered the ground staff’s efforts to adequately prepare the field, leading to multiple problematic patches across the playing area.
This effectively places the Asia Cup, a pivotal precursor to the World Cup, at the mercy of unpredictable weather conditions.
Jane Davies
