A much-anticipated cricket showdown between Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup 2023 was washed out by heavy rain at the Pallakele Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday.
The clash, eagerly awaited by fans worldwide, concluded with both teams sharing points as the match was officially called off.
Earlier in the game, India had been bowled out for a total of 266 in the 49th over, setting a challenging target of 267 for Pakistan. However, during the innings break, relentless rain drenched the stadium, causing a third interruption and ultimately forcing the abandonment of the match.
The contest had already witnessed a roller-coaster of events on the field. India’s decision to bat first appeared dubious as Pakistani seamers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf, dismantled the top order, dismissing star batsmen Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer within the initial 15 overs.
Yet, India showcased resilience, staging a comeback led by the formidable partnership of Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan. The Pakistani pacers, however, struck back with a vengeance, claiming three consecutive wickets. Shaheen and Rauf both secured three dismissals each, while Naseem Shah accounted for the final three wickets of Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The match had faced interruptions earlier due to the persistent rain. The first stoppage occurred during the fourth over, with India at 15 runs. A second interruption followed when India reached 51-3 during the 11th over, but play resumed afterward.
The downpour disappointed cricket enthusiasts worldwide and disrupted what was expected to be a high-intensity showdown between Pakistan’s pacers and India’s batters.
Prior to the match, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, acknowledged the challenging weather conditions and stressed the need to embrace the adversity.
He also highlighted the team’s preparations and the inclusion of key players such as Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shardul Thakur.
On the opposing side, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed a desire to bat first and underlined their familiarity with the playing conditions. Pakistan had commenced their Asia Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 238-run victory over Nepal.
