IND vs PAK to have reserve day; Jasprit Bumrah rejoins team India
The reserve day will be triggered only if there is either no play possible at all or the weather does not permit the intervened game to be resumed.
Crickate
In other news, a reserve day has been added to the India-Pakistan Super Four match on September 11, which would otherwise be a no-game day. According to the original schedule, only the tournament final scheduled for September 17 had this provision.
The India-Pakistan Super Four will be the only game other than the final with a reserve day, as Colombo is expected to experience rain in the upcoming week. The weather has already impacted both India games thus far, with the match against Pakistan ending in a no-result and India chasing a revised target in a shortened match against Nepal.
Even in the event of inclement weather, it is understood that every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled date, even if it means curtailing the game. The reserve day will only be utilized if there is either no play at all or the weather prevents the game from being resumed on the scheduled day. On the reserve day, however, the game shall begin anew if it did not begin on the original day or continue from where it left off the day before.
Even though it is not monsoon season in Sri Lanka, the Colombo weather forecast for the next few days is not particularly optimistic, with an 85% probability of precipitation on September 9, the day of the Super Four match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and a 90% chance on September 10.
This is why the ACC briefly contemplated moving the tournament out of Colombo, with Dambulla and Hambantota being considered as alternatives. However, the proposal was abandoned due to the logistical difficulties that such a significant last-minute change would cause, as well as SLC's preference for the capital city because "many fans had already made arrangements to watch the matches in Colombo."
Jasprit Bumrah Rejoins Team India
After a brief detour from the Asia Cup to witness the birth of his first child, Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the Indian team. He flew from Mumbai and disembarked in Colombo early on September 8 in advance of India's September 10 Super Four match against Pakistan in the capital city.
Bumrah had flown home for filial duty after the group-stage match against Pakistan in Pallekele on 2 September, which resulted in a no-contest due to persistent rain at the venue. He did not play in India's second group game against Nepal on September 4, as he was replaced by Mohammed Shami in the XI that won by 10 wickets and advanced to the Super Four.
Meanwhile, the pace spearhead will participate in India's practice at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday evening, with the team anticipated to practice indoors due to the rainy forecast. However, if the recent weather trend is an indicator, the conditions may improve later in the evening, giving Rohit Sharma & brigade an opportunity to practice outdoors in full swing.
