The highly anticipated Asia Cup clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka scheduled for tomorrow in Colombo is under the shadow of uncertain weather conditions. Multiple weather forecasts are predicting rain and thunderstorms, raising concerns about the match’s fate.
This Super Four match, dubbed by many as a “virtual semi-final,” will determine which team advances to the final of the Asia Cup, hosted on a hybrid model by both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo is set to be the battleground for this crucial encounter, with a start time of 2:30 pm (PST).
AccuWeather, a prominent weather forecaster, has painted a gloomy picture for Colombo. Their predictions indicate a 93% likelihood of rain, with a 56% chance of thunderstorms affecting the match during the day, accompanied by “a couple of showers and a thunderstorm.” For the night, AccuWeather expects a 98% cloud cover with rain in some areas, with a 48% chance of precipitation and a 28% chance of thunderstorms.
During the match timings, AccuWeather foresees two separate rain spells, one at 5 pm local time with a 53% probability and the other at 8 pm local time with a 51% probability.
The Weather Channel is not more optimistic, forecasting a 90% chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day, and an 80% chance of rain at night.
According to the BBC’s weather forecast, Colombo is expected to witness “thundery showers and a gentle breeze” on match day.
The stakes are high for Pakistan in this encounter. If the match is washed out, Pakistan, currently ranked third in the Super Four, will be eliminated from the Asian championship. Points will be shared, and India will face Sri Lanka in the final showdown on Sunday.
Pakistan’s net run-rate stands at a challenging -1.892, trailing behind Sri Lanka, who have a slightly better run-rate of -0.2. Pakistan’s poor run-rate is a consequence of their 228-run loss to India in a one-day international match that spanned two days.
Rain has been a recurring theme in the Asia Cup. The Pakistan-India one-day international match on September 2 was washed out, leaving fans disappointed. Similarly, rain played spoilsport in the Super Four match between the two teams on Sunday. India’s dominance continued, defeating Sri Lanka by 41 runs in another rain-affected game.
Earlier this month, the Asian Cricket Council had considered relocating Super Four round games away from Colombo due to persistent wet weather in the Sri Lankan capital. The hybrid-model solution, with matches hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, emerged after the Board of Control for Cricket in India declined to host the tournament in Pakistan last year.
Read more: Asia Cup 2023: Can Pakistan qualify for final?
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome, all eyes are on the skies, hoping that the rain clouds will spare this crucial Asia Cup clash.
