The big India-Pakistan clash this Sunday at the T20 World Cup at the MCG has ticket-holders worried with rain forecast through the day in Melbourne.
With just three days left for the World Cup opener of the two sides, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) forecast indicate that the match may end up in a washout.
“High (80%) chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southeasterly during the evening,” the BOM website suggests. highest
The weather forecast for Melbourne on 23 October as provided by Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Australia.
(Photo: BOM, Australia website)
India will lock horns with Pakistan at 1:30pm IST and 7:00pm local time, which is around evening when Melbourne is expected to receive the highest showers (80%)
The Saturday encounter between hosts Australia and New Zealand in Sydney is another game that is under threat of being washed out.
Earlier, the India-New Zealand warm-up match in Brisbane on Wednesday was abandoned without bowling a single ball due to incessant rain while the Pakistan-Afghanistan match also ended in similar fashion after one side's batting.
Meanwhile, a minimum of five overs constitute a match and there are no reserve days for group fixtures, meaning there will be no rematch of the India-Pakistan game if it is washed out. However, ICC has provided reserve days for semi-finals and final.
India Play One Warm Up Game
Ahead of the Team India's 2022 World Cup campaign, the Rohit Sharma-led side were set to play two warm-up games -- first against Australia on 17 October and the second against the Kiwis on 19 October respectively.
However, India could only play one of the two as the second match got washed out due to rain. Fifties from KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, and a sensational 3/4 from Mohammed Shami helped India defeat hosts Australia by six-wickets in the first game.
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