BRISTOL: The toss for the World Cup group stage match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Friday was delayed due to rain as heavy clouds shrouded the sky over the Bristol County Ground.
The toss was scheduled to be taken place at 10:00am UK time (2:00pm Pakistan time). However, light but continuous rain has forced the delay.
Both the Pakistan and Sri Lanka teams were still in the hotel, waiting to hear from match officials on the start of the game.
The covers had been brought out to protect the pitch as light rain was pouring over Bristol. Play was likely to be affected with overs expected to be reduced for each innings.
But overcast conditions also threw in the chance of the game being washed out, in which scenario each side would get one point each.
According to the rules, at least 20 overs per innings are mandatory to be played for an official ODI game. For a 20-overs game, the match must start at 4:15pm UK time (8:15pm Pakistan time), but that was possible only if rain stops and the ground is handed over to match officials timely.
An earlier weather report by BBC Weather suggested that heavy showers were expected to be seen in the first five hours of the game.
“We will lose one point as we could’ve won this,” said former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf, who said Pakistan were being considered favourites for the match.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, thought Pakistan would benefit if overs were reduced.
“Pakistan is great at Twenty20 cricket. The match should happen, whether its 20 or 22 overs. Its good for Pakistan either way,” he said.
“We are very good at T20. (If playing time is reduced) We should follow those T20 strategies,” former Pakistan cricketer Sikander Bakht told Geo News.
Pakistan were looking to maintain its unbeaten streak against Sri Lanka in Friday’s group stage match. Pakistan has beaten Sri Lanka in all their previous seven World Cup encounters.
The last time the teams met was in 2011 with Pakistan winning by 11 runs.
Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka bounced back after opening defeats in the tournament this year.
Pakistan lost to the West Indies by seven wickets at Trent Bridge before beating England by 14 runs at the same venue on Monday.
Sri Lanka crashed to a 10-wicket defeat against New Zealand before pulling off a 34-run win against Afghanistan in a rain-affected game.
All 10 teams play each other in a round-robin format, with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals.
