The forthcoming marquee battle between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to unfold in Pallekele, Kandy, Sri Lanka on Saturday, is at serious risk of being marred by rain. The forecast from AccuWeather paints a concerning picture, predicting a staggering 100 percent chance of precipitation coupled with a 90 percent likelihood of thunderstorms.

Eyewitnesses at the Sri Lankan stadium have reported that protective covers have been rolled up near the boundary lines. This proactive measure has been taken due to the damp outfield caused by heavy rainfall, experienced both on Wednesday evening and the previous Tuesday.

On Thursday, August 31, the same venue, the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, will witness Bangladesh facing off against Sri Lanka. AccuWeather forecasts a scenario of “considerable cloudiness with a stray thunderstorm; humid” for the host nation’s clash against the Bangla Tigers. The precipitation probability for this match remains under 40 percent. However, as the stage is set for India to take on arch-rivals Pakistan, the precipitation level escalates dramatically to 100 percent. AccuWeather’s prediction for Saturday indicates “cloudy and humid; showers in the afternoon.” During this period, rain is anticipated from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM, with high chances of rain resurfacing from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A further spell of showers has been predicted between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. These conditions pose a substantial risk of the match either being abandoned or yielding a non-conclusive result.