Kandy's skies cast doubt over Pakistan-India Asia Cup showdown

The fervent cricket fans on both sides of the border have been eagerly awaiting September 2, as Pakistan and India lock horns on the cricket field in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. However, Mother Nature seems to have her own plans, putting the fate of this high voltage match in jeopardy.

The Asia Cup 2023, which commenced on August 30, has already seen a couple of matches, including Pakistan's dominant performance against Nepal and Sri Lanka's face-off with Bangladesh. But the clash that steals the limelight is undoubtedly between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, scheduled at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. As preparations reach a crescendo, grim weather predictions threaten to play spoilsport.

Kandy's gloomy forecast

Leading weather sources paint a rather bleak picture for the match day. Reports from Weather.com suggest that the Deiyannewela region in Kandy will mostly witness cloudy skies peppered with sporadic thunderstorms, raising concerns of a significant downpour. AccuWeather echoes this sentiment, anticipating a humid day in Kandy with likely showers in the afternoon. To add to the cricketing fraternity's woes, the BBC Weather department too predicts thundershowers accompanied by a mild breeze throughout the day.

AccuWeather's detailed forecast for September 2 reveals that Kandy may experience a dense cloud cover with a staggering 94% likelihood of rain. Worryingly for fans, a 99% chance of rain is predicted during the latter half of the day, which is precisely when the Pakistan vs India match is penciled in to start.

What if rain interrupts the game?

The looming question on everyone's mind is: what happens if the iconic clash is interrupted or entirely washed out by rain?

1. Pakistan's Scenario: Under Babar Azam's leadership, Pakistan secured a resounding victory against Nepal in Group 1, winning by a whopping 238 runs this past Wednesday. If rain disrupts their upcoming match against India on Saturday, Pakistan will automatically advance to the Super 4 stage.
2. India's Scenario: If India emerges victorious against Nepal in their group-stage encounter, both subcontinental giants, Pakistan and India, will comfortably sail to the Super Fours stage, rendering the outcome of their head-to-head inconsequential in terms of tournament progression.
3. Nepal's Surprise: Although it's a long shot, given Nepal's relative inexperience and lower ranking, if they manage to stun India, they, along with Pakistan, will advance to the Super Fours, leaving millions of fans from the subcontinent disappointed over the missed classic battle.