The highly anticipated showdown of India vs Pakistan during the Super Four stage of the 2023 Asia Cup has been rescheduled for Monday, September 11, owing to rain. A substantial downpour interrupted the match after 24.1 overs had been bowled, and even though the rain subsided after an hour, the game couldn’t resume due to the field not being fit for play.
The ground personnel worked diligently to get the game began as quickly as possible, coming very close to reaching their aim. However, Rain had some different plans, as it once again started pouring down, causing the umpires to make the agonizing decision to call off the day’s play. The match is expected to resume tomorrow at 3 pm IST, with India slated to finish their full quota of 50 overs at the crease.
In the event that the reserve day is also hampered by weather circumstances, the points will be split between the two teams. Pakistan, having already secured two points from their earlier victory against Bangladesh, will add one more to their tally in such a situation. India, entering their maiden Super Four encounter, will also gain a point.
On the happier side, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and young star Shubman Gill had a solid start, each notching up well-deserved half-centuries to provide India with an excellent platform. However, their dismissals in consecutive overs, courtesy of Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, stemmed the momentum. Nevertheless, India exhibited perseverance, with KL Rahul making a vital contribution upon his return, well-supported by Kohli in the middle.
Their aim on Monday would be to accumulate as many runs as possible, preserving India’s position of strength. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, who haven’t been at their best in this match, would be eager to recapture their form once again. As for the weather, there’s once more a considerable probability of rain, possibly laying the scenario for another extended day for cricket enthusiasts.
India Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Pakistan Playing XI:
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
