What Will Happen if IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 Match Washes Out on Reserve Day?

The 2023 Asia Cup has been a rollercoaster ride of cricketing emotions, and Sunday’s clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan added another twist to the tale. In a high-voltage Super 4 match at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, the cricketing world eagerly awaited a thrilling showdown between the two giants. However, mother nature had other plans.

As the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took the crease, they unleashed a dazzling display of batting prowess. Together, they forged a partnership of 121 runs, pushing Pakistan’s formidable bowling lineup to the limit.

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But just when the excitement reached its peak, the heavens opened up, and the rain came pouring down, disrupting the electrifying encounter. At 147 for two in 24.1 overs, India was building a formidable total, and fans were on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, the rain gods had other plans.

As the ground staff rushed to cover the pitch, the hopes of millions were momentarily dashed. The interruption left Virat Kohli and KL Rahul unbeaten at 8 and 17 runs, respectively. The clock ticked, and the officials announced that the cutoff time for a 20-over game was 10:36 PM. If the rain refused to relent, Pakistan would have been handed a revised DLS target of approximately 180 runs in 20 overs.

Amidst the uncertainty, a pitch inspection was scheduled not once but twice, at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. However, intermittent rain persisted, leading to the inevitable decision to postpone the Super 4 clash to the reserve day.

What Will Happen on Reserve Day of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023

The India-Pakistan encounter is the only match in the Asia Cup 2023 with a designated reserve day. The game will resume from where it left off, maintaining the same score, drama, and tension. Match officials were initially tasked with completing this intense rivalry on the originally planned matchday, but nature had other ideas.

To achieve a result, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled in each inning. If the Super 4 match ends in another washout on the reserve day, both India and Pakistan will share the match points. This scenario would undoubtedly be a bitter pill to swallow for the players and fans, who crave a definitive outcome in these high-stakes clashes.

The implications of this weather-induced uncertainty are significant. With the India-Pakistan match hanging in the balance, Rohit Sharma’s men will have to gear up for their next Super Four showdown against Sri Lanka in less than 24 hours after the Pakistan game concludes on Tuesday.

It’s deja vu for India in this continental tournament, as an earlier Group A match at the Pallekele Stadium was also abandoned due to rain. The fate of the Super 4 clash now rests in the hands of the reserve day, where a nation’s hopes hang in the balance once again.