Asia Cup 2023: The India vs. Pakistan encounter in Pallekele was called off due to rain. Pakistan’s chase couldn’t commence as persistent rain led to the abandonment of the match.
Highlights of the India vs. Pakistan match in Pallekele: The game was called off due to rain, preventing Pakistan from beginning their chase. Earlier, India managed to post a total of 266 runs before being bowled out, with Shaheen Afridi taking four crucial wickets. Despite a shaky start, Hardik Pandya (87) and Ishan Kishan (82) formed a remarkable 138-run partnership that revived India’s chances. Towards the end, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf each claimed three wickets, denting India’s batting performance. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and chose to bat first.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
In the IND vs. PAK Asia Cup 2023 match, Shaheen Afridi stole the spotlight on a rainy day, delivering a devastating spell of bowling. The weather in Pallekele had the locals anxiously awaiting a delayed monsoon, and luckily, they had the opportunity to witness Pakistan’s bowling and India’s batting – the star attractions from both teams – before rain intervened and led to the match being abandoned after India had set a target of 267.
However, the evening wasn’t solely characterized by the forces of nature. Shaheen Shah Afridi put on a scintillating performance, wreaking havoc on India’s top-order batsmen. Ironically, it was India’s middle order, which had faced some challenges in recent times, that salvaged the situation and spared India from further embarrassment.