IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: Is there a reserve day for India vs Pakistan Super 4 match? Washout scenario explained

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In view of the prevailing weather conditions, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Friday decided to add an exclusive reserve day for the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan, which is scheduled for Sunday, September 10 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Asia Cup 2023 final on September 17 will also have a reserve day at the venue.

However, the remaining four matches in the Super Fours round in Sri Lanka will not have any reserve day. The arrangement has only been made for the marquee clash. It means that if the rain plays spoilsport during the high-octane match on September 10, the match on the next day will resume and the duration of the contest will be the same as on the last ball of the day one.

Before using the reserve day, efforts will be made to complete the match on the original date even if it means shortening the contest.

Ninety percent chances of precipitation have been predicted in Colombo on Sunday and the chances of the match getting over are highly unlikely. It has rained heavily in the last one week in Colombo and the groundsmen are racing against time to prepare the ground on time.

Due to the wet ground, the Indian cricket team had to restrict themselves to indoor practice on Thursday. The venue will host five of the six Super 4 matches including the second one between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Saturday, September 9.

"A reserve day has been incorporated for the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4’s match between Pakistan and India scheduled to take place on 10th September 2023 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo," the ACC said in a statement.

"If adverse weather suspends play during the Pakistan vs India game, the match will continue on 11th September 2023 from the point it was suspended," the statement added.

The Asia Cup final, to be played on September 17, already has been provided with a reserve day considering the heavy rains in the Lankan capital.

In such an eventuality, the ACC said spectators can hold on to their match tickets which will remain valid on the reserve day. Recently, the PCB management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf had written to ACC chairman Jay Shah, demanding compensation for allegedly losing out considerable money on gate receipts due to poor crowd response for matches in the island nation.

The group league match between the arch-rivals had to be called off after a steady downpour after the end of the first innings in which India scored 266 in 48.5 overs.

While there is not even the remotest chance of ACC giving any compensation to PCB, the reserve day is the most amicable settlement that could have been reached amidst rising tension between continental body and the tournament hosts.

IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: What if the match is not completed on the reserve day as well?

In case the match is not completed on the reserve day as well, India and Pakistan will be forced to share a point each like they did in the group stage of the tournament.