RESERVE Day Only For India Vs Pakistan Super 4 Clash In Asia Cup 2023 Due To Colombo Weather? Official Announcement Soon, Says Report
With the weather expected to be a factor in the second round of the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s battle between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is seeking a reserve day for just this game, according to a source.
According to weather apps, the odds of rain on September 10 in Colombo, the venue for the match, are as high as 90%. Colombo has been drenched for the past week.
Earlier, it was reported that the Asia Cup's Super 4 matches could be moved to Hambantota, but this option was rejected since teams supposedly declined.
According to Rex Clementine, a Sri Lankan cricket journalist, the only match with a reserve day will be India vs. Pakistan, and an official confirmation will be made soon.
ESPNcricinfo reported the same, adding that PCB had already submitted an email to Jay Shah's ACC requesting that the Sri Lankan leg of Super 4 matches be moved from rain-soaked Colombo to Hambantota, which was denied by ACC.
Fans on social media have had different reactions to this. Many neutral supporters believe that this is unfair to countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Why should only India and Bangladesh be allowed to have reserve days for rain-affected matches?
An X user called the move "stupid," while another expressed hope that it rains on both days. Another person described it as 'unreal favouritism' towards the Indian and Pakistani squads. According to one user, this is yet another illustration of how the Asia Cup is a glorified India-Pakistan bilateral series.
The PCB reportedly issued a letter to Jay Shah in protest after the ACC declined to move the matches to Hambantota, according to ESPNcricinfo. As previously stated, there is a 90% chance of precipitation in Colombo on September 10.
If a reserve day is added, the match will be finished the following day. If no balls are bowled on September 10, a full match will be played on September 11 if a reserve day is available.
Jasprit Bumrah has joined the Men in Blue ahead of the much-anticipated encounter between India and Pakistan. He had returned to Mumbai to be with his wife as they became first-time parents. Bumrah and his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, have had their first child, Angad.
After returning from injury, Bumrah has yet to bowl in an ODI. Rain cancelled the Pakistan chase on September 2, and Bumrah missed the Nepal encounter because he was returning to India.