Istafa Ali
Rain is likely to stop today’s important match between PAK vs SL in Colombo. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is still having trouble with the weather.
If one team wins today, they will move on to the Asia Cup 2023 final against India on Sunday at the same location.
Even though it isn’t raining in Colombo right now, strong winds are still blowing through the city. Also, rain is expected to fall off and on throughout the day.
If today’s match PAK vs SL is rained out, Sri Lanka will be in the final because their run rate is better than the Green Shirts’.
This is not the first time rain has stopped a playoff game. In the past, heavy rain has cancelled all of Pakistan’s games in the Island country.
Also, after Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Salman Ali Agha got hurt during the game, the Green Shirts made a lot of changes to their team, including adding several new players.
But Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, said that injuries to their best quicks are a big setback before the game but a “fantastic opportunity” for younger players.
Morkel, a former fast bowler for South Africa, told reporters, “It’s a big blow to pick up those little niggles, but what a great chance for the guys coming in.”
“After losing to India, tomorrow’s game is a must-win for us, and I’m excited to see how the new guys step in, what kind of people they are, and how they respond.”
India Beat Sri Lanka To Qualify for the Final
Zaman Khan, who is 22 years old, flew in from Pakistan. He is already well-known in national cricket because he helped Lahore Qalandars win the PSL this year.
“I’m excited just to work with him, connect Hari with them, build that relationship, and help him grow, because he’s a game-winner,” Morkel said of the quick, who stopped 13 runs in his last over to help Lahore defend its title this season.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is in charge of Pakistan’s fast bowling, which scared India in their Asia Cup group match, which was called off after only one game because of rain.
But India beat Shaheen and his team badly in their last match, which was played over two days because of rain. India scored 356-2.
Morkel said that losing by 228 runs to India was a good learning experience before the 50-over main event on October 14 where they will face their foes.
Morkel, who called Shaheen “world-class,” said, “Those are great lessons for us.”
“The more difficult things we can go through before the World Cup, the better. We’re going to learn from this and come back even stronger.”
Critics have said that Pakistan’s lack of good spinners is a big problem on the moving tracks in Sri Lanka, but Morkel says that the slow bowlers are still ready to do their jobs.
Pakistan’s team that lost to India was replaced by Mohammad Haris, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, and Zaman.
Pakistan XI: Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Zaman Khan.
