ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India earned one point each on Saturday after a sensational 50-over Asia Cup match was washed away by intermittent rain after just one innings of play in the Sri Lankan city of Kandy.
India had a challenging start after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Yet, they managed to set a 267-run target for arch-rivals Pakistan after suffering early setbacks, as skipper Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4) fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi's deceptive deliveries.
As the fall of wickets continued, Haris Rauf claimed Shreyas Iyer's wicket and shattered the stumps of Shubman Gill in the 14th over.
At 66 for 4, Ishan Kishan (82 off 81) and Hardik Pandya (87 off 90) stabilized India's innings. Their dynamic batting display enthralled the crowd, propelling India to 204 runs before Kishan's dismissal by Babar Azam off Rauf's delivery.
Pandya followed suit, leaving India at 239 for 6 in the 42nd over.
Despite the efforts of other players, India's batting performance faltered, resulting in a total collapse by the 48th over. Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan claimed four dismissals, while Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah secured three wickets each.
However, Pakistan did not get a chance to play their innings due to the rain that also interrupted the match a few times in the first few overs. This time round, it continued unabated, prompting the authorities to announce an end to the game.
Pakistan have made the Super Four stage of the tournament since they won their opening match against Asia Cup debutants Nepal by a formidable margin of 238 runs.
India-Pakistan matches are special and often referred to as “cricket’s greatest rivalry” due to the fervor and passion they generate.
The cricket contests between the two sides transcend sports, becoming a reflection of the complex relationship between two neighboring nations and a platform for people to demonstrate their emotions, allegiances, and aspirations.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have led the two nations only to play each other at international tournaments in well over a decade. The last time the Indian cricket team visited Pakistan was in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup tournament.
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates taking the wicket of India's Ravindra Jadeja during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on September 2, 2023. (AP)
Naseem Shah of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of India's Kuldeep Yadav during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at Pallekele, Sri Lanka on September 2, 2023. (AP)
Ishan Kishan of India celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at Pallekele, Sri Lanka on September 2, 2023. (AP)
India's Kuldeep Yadav runs between wickets during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on September 2, 2023. (AP)
