India vs Nepal. (Photo Source: Twitter)
As known, so many passionate fans at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy were left disappointed on Saturday night, September 2 as a much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash was washed out due to persistent rain.
While cricket fans around the world were eagerly waiting for this match, the weather had other plans. The rain had already interrupted the game twice during India’s innings but never stopped when it mattered most – during Pakistan’s innings.
As the stadium buzzed with action, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf wreaking havoc on the Indian top order, the rain gods showed no mercy. Eventually, the first-ever India-Pakistan encounter in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup was abandoned.
Now, Team India is gearing up for a game against Nepal, hoping for better luck with the weather. However, the forecast isn’t promising, as Sri Lanka doesn’t typically schedule cricket matches in September due to the monsoon season.
Check: Live Weather Updates for India vs Nepal, 5th Match in Asia Cup 2023
Pallekele and Colombo have experienced heavy rainfall in recent days, and as per the reports, there is an 89 percent chance of precipitation predicted, with a 26 percent likelihood of thunderstorms. Rain is expected between 11 am and 4 pm, potentially causing delays.
On Sunday, while the Indian team decided to skip practice due to the persistent rain, Nepal was at the venue, having an indoor training session.
The big question for Indian fans now is: What happens if the match against Nepal is also washed out? By the rules, each team must play a minimum of 20 overs for a result. If overs are reduced due to a delayed start, scores will be adjusted accordingly.
If India-Nepal faces the same fate as India-Pakistan, both teams will share a point each. Nepal will be knocked out of the Super Four race, while India will advance with a total of two points from the two washed-out matches in the group stage. Fans would be hoping that they could see a full match here.