Last Update on: September 7th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials are hopeful that they can host the Super Fours and the final match of the Asia Cup 2023 in the upcoming days even though there’s heavy rain prediction in Colombo.
Starting from Saturday (September 9th), R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is ready to host the Super Fours and final match of the Asia Cup 2023. There will be five Super Fours to be held in the stadium and the final match of the tournament will take place on Sunday (September 17th).
R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is ready to host the most anticipated match of the Super Fours, between India and Pakistan on Sunday (September 10th). The last time these two teams faced each other in the Asia Cup 2023, the match was cancelled without any result due to rain. The fans surely don’t want that to repeat.
However, according to Google Weather report in Colombo on Sunday, there is a 90% chance that rain might play a spoilsport again. There are also predictions of thunderstorms during the match.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked the Asian Cricket Board (ACC) president, Jay Shah to change the venue of the forthcoming matches of the Asia Cup 2023 to Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota but Shah refused to consider the request.
The outfield too has soaked in a good amount of water: Godfrey Dabrera on Asia Cup 2023 matches taking place in Colombo
While speaking to the media, the national curator of Sri Lanka Cricket said that due to rain the wicket and few areas are still wet however the outfield is soaked water.
The official said that the rest of the Asia Cup 2023 matches will take place in Colombo but if needed all three stadiums can host a game.
Godfrey accepted that it is hard to maintain a field when there is and they can only manage when they get a weather report from the Met department.
“Yes, the predictions are for rain. We had rains here this morning too, and it has made the wicket and areas near it a bit wet. The outfield too has soaked in a good amount of water.
“But we are working hard, and we are confident of preparing the ground in time for the matches. All three cities (Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota) are experiencing rainfall. But we have assembled around 100 members, and we are readying pitches in all three venues.
“We have been told that the matches are here, so we are preparing accordingly. But I can say that all three venues can host matches, if a need arises. Rain during the match is tough to manage as we have to wait till it subsides.
“But we can only do this much when the Met department provides only 12 days of forecast in advance. We have received the next 12 days of weather updates only today from them. Hope, we had that a few days ago,” Godfrey Dabrera said.
Rohit Sharma-led India will lay all of their matches in Sri Lanka and not in Pakistan since the two neighbouring countries are going through a political turmoil which forced the ACC to make the island country as the co host of the Asia Cup 2023.