Rain has played more than the cricketers in the ongoing India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match that is in its reserve day in Colombo. After the Indian team was able to complete its batting innings posting a massive 356-run total, Pakistan openers were tentative as both Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq failed to read the moving ball.
Jasprit Bumrah struck first getting Imam to edge an away-swinging delivery to the second slip. Skipper Babar Azam hit a couple of boundaries before Hardik Pandya's gorgeous inswinging delivery cut him in half disturbing his stumps. Pakistan were reduced to 44/2 as India tightened their grip over the game and the moment it looked like Pakistan were going to fall off, the rain arrived in Colombo, throwing a spanner into the works.
The cut-off time for the remaining nine overs to take place for the match to yield a result is around 11 PM local time, so there is time. However, the overs will start getting reduced in less than an hour and the over reduction will only favour India as DLS target will keep getting bigger and bigger for Pakistan.
Pakistan's DLS targets if overs are reduced
| Overs |
Pakistan's DLS Target |
| 20 |
200 |
| 22 |
216 |
| 24 |
230 |
| 26 |
244 |
What if the match is abandoned?
If no play happens anymore, the game will be washed out with both India and Pakistan sharing a point each. Team India will be gutted if the match is called off, given the position they are in as Pakistan need 313 runs to win off 39 overs with eight wickets in hand and skipper Babar Azam back in the hut. If the match is called off, Pakistan will have three points in their bag having beaten Bangladesh in their first Super Fours game and India will need to win both games. The workload of the players will be an issue as well, given they play for three days in a row. India are up against Sri Lanka in less than 24 hours on Tuesday, September 12.
