KANDY: Cricket fans’ quest to see arch-rivals Pakistan and India going face to face after four years in ODI format on Saturday might get unsettled as dark clouds loom with rain likely to spoilsport in the anticipated Asia Cup 2023 clash.

According to BBC Weather, there is a very high chance of showers, as much as 80 per cent, here on Saturday, September 2.

Moreover, the BBC weather forecasts persistent and heavy rainfall throughout Saturday, meaning that the anticipated clash between arch-rivals could get washed out.

If the game gets washed out there is no reserved day for the match and thus both teams will split the points.

Notably, severe gusts are expected during the match, which may have an impact on the playing conditions and general atmosphere.

Moreover, the temperatures will range between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius during the game.

The Asia Cup 2023 group-stage clash between Pakistan and India will mark Pakistan and India’s first faceoff in the ODI format since the 2019 World Cup, where the Men in Blue emerged triumphant.

However, if the high-octane clash between Pakistan gets washed out on Saturday, cricket fans may get to witness the biggest rivalry of the sport again if the two teams manage to make it to the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside Nepal while Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh and defending champions Sri Lanka.

Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

READ: Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh to script winning start to Asia Cup defence