The match was interrupted, once again, when India was 51-3 during the 11th over.
Pak vs Ind: Pakistan through to Super 4s after rain washes out thrilling contest. The Pakistan versus India thriller was washed out as the rain continued to pour since the innings break, preventing Pakistan from starting a run-chase in the much-awaited Asia Cup 2023 clash on Saturday.
However, a successful first innings by Pakistan steered the national side into the Super 4s, despite not having to bat due to persistent showers.
The start of the second innings was delayed as it rained heavily for the third time in the Pallekele at the innings break. India were bowled out for 266 after Pakistan pacers’ quick dismissals brought the side back into the game in the
Earlier, India chose to bat first but lost four wickets just in 15 overs as Pakistani seamers ripped through the top order, sending Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer to the dugout.
However, India recovered from the early damage brought on by Pakistan pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf, who each dismissed key batters of the arch-rivals.
More From FactFile: Naseem Shah clears the air about marriage rumours
After a threatening partnership between Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan, the pacers struck again and gave three consecutive blows to the Men in Green. The lethal bowling spell brought the team back into the game at a crucial point.
Shaheen and Rauf each picked three wickets, while the last three dismissals Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah came from Naseem Shah.
Earlier, much to the disappointment of cricket fans everywhere, a rain spell played spoilsport twice during the India-Pakistan match.
The high-octane match promises to be a thrilling battle between the Pakistani pacers and Indian batters.
However, the fears that rain may disrupt the game materialised as the match was halted first in the fourth over, with India already having made 15 runs.
The match was interrupted, once again, when India was 51-3 during the 11th over.
However, the game was resumed soon after.
It must be noted that Pakistan began their Asia Cup 2023 campaign on a high with a massive 238-run win over Nepal on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, this is India’s first match in the tournament.
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first, and Indian Captain Rohit Sharma said: “There is a bit of weather around but we cannot think about it too much.”
“Embrace the challenge, embrace the situation. We had a six-day camp in Bangalore where we worked on our skills,” Sharma said.
“The Asia Cup is a quality tournament with quality teams. At the end of the day, we need to think about what we can do here.
“Since the last ODI series we played in the West Indies, we have got a few additions: Shreyas and Bumrah are back. Shardul is there. Hardik, of course. And Shardul is there. And two spinners in Kuldeep and Jadeja.”
Babar, on the other hand, said: “To be honest, we also wanted to bat first.”
“We have played a lot of cricket here in the last one and a half month, so we know the conditions.”
India have the upper hand against Pakistan with seven wins in 13 Asia Cup (ODI) matches. Meanwhile, Pakistan have won five with one match ending in no result.
Pakistan have also lost four of the last five matches against India in the Asia Cup, with their last win coming in Mirpur in 2014.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice captain) Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
