Colombo, September 8, 2023 – Cricket enthusiasts from all corners of the globe are buzzing with excitement as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) scores a major victory by persuading the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to designate a reserve day for the highly-anticipated Pakistan vs. India match in the Asia Cup 2023. This thrilling announcement has added a new layer of drama and suspense to an already intense rivalry.
The marquee clash between Pakistan and India, scheduled for September 10, 2023, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, will be the only match in the Asia Cup to have the safety net of a reserve day.
The PCB made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday, which stated, “A reserve day has been incorporated for the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4’s match between Pakistan and India, scheduled to take place on 10th September 2023 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.”
The decision to introduce a reserve day comes in response to mounting concerns about the unpredictable weather in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the remaining matches of the Asia Cup 2023 are scheduled to be held. The PCB had repeatedly expressed its reservations, particularly after the previous Pakistan-India encounter on September 2 was abandoned due to rain.
The weather forecast for the upcoming match on Sunday paints a gloomy picture, with a high likelihood of up to 90% precipitation.
Responding to the PCB’s requests and concerns, the ACC has granted the reserve day for the clash between the teams led by Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma. On September 11, the day following the scheduled match date, if adverse weather conditions interrupt the game on September 10, it will resume from the point at which it was halted.
The official statement from the ACC elaborated on this contingency plan, asserting, “If adverse weather suspends play during the Pakistan vs. India game, the match will continue on 11th September 2023 from the point at which it was suspended.”
To accommodate this change, ticket-holders are advised to retain their match tickets, which will remain valid and can be utilized for the reserve day’s proceedings.
It is important to note that if the match does indeed spill over to the reserve day, Team India will find themselves in a challenging situation as they are slated to face Sri Lanka on September 12. This means back-to-back matches, testing the endurance and adaptability of Rohit Sharma’s squad.
Read more: Colombo weather: These teams will play final if remaining Asia Cup matches are washed out
The inclusion of a reserve day for the Pakistan-India clash has injected even more excitement and anticipation into the Asia Cup 2023. Cricket fans are now eagerly awaiting the showdown between these two cricketing giants, hoping that the weather gods will favor them and allow a full, uninterrupted contest between Pakistan and India, setting the stage for an unforgettable cricketing spectacle.
