In a rain-affected Group A match of the Asia Cup, opener Aasif Sheikh led the way with a half-century, guiding Nepal to a total of 230 all out against India. Despite a strong start by Sheikh (58) and Kushal Bhurtel (38), Nepal faced a tough middle-order challenge. Nevertheless, they managed to put up a commendable score in an innings disrupted by rain in Pallekele.

Sompal Kami, batting at number eight, played a crucial role in Nepal’s innings, smashing 48 runs before the innings concluded in 48.2 overs. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were the standout performers for India, each taking three wickets.

The 50-over Asia Cup tournament, considered a preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, has been plagued by rain. This has led to discussions about potentially changing the venue for upcoming matches in Colombo. India’s opening match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain after just one innings. For India, a win or a washout in this match would secure their spot in the Super Four stage.

India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field first, but early on, Bhurtel and Aasif capitalized on the opportunities provided by the Indian fielders, who dropped three catches in the initial five overs. Notably, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan missed crucial chances.

Bhurtel’s aggressive batting included smashing Siraj for four and a massive six on consecutive balls, igniting the excitement among Nepal fans at a sparsely populated stadium. However, he fell caught behind soon after hitting a six off fast bowler Shardul Thakur.

The introduction of left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja yielded wickets for India, and Kuldeep Yadav’s left-arm wrist spin tightened the flow of runs, even as Aasif Sheikh reached his half-century. Eventually, Siraj dismissed Sheikh, further denting Nepal’s batting lineup.

As the Asia Cup 2023 unfolds, the looming threat of rain disrupting matches persists, with the India vs. Nepal encounter in Pallekele being the latest victim. With dark clouds casting a shadow over the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, the possibility of another stop-start game raises questions about the potential outcome if the match faces a complete washout due to rain.

If a similar situation unfolds in the India vs. Nepal clash, with the match being entirely abandoned due to rain, the two teams will again share points. In such an event, India’s points tally would increase to 2 points, while Nepal would have 1 point. Consequently, India would advance to the Super Four stage alongside Group A leaders Pakistan.

Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, underlines the team’s concentration on their initial Asia Cup fixture against Nepal, dismissing the rivalry against India and emphasizing the significance of every opponent.

The six-nation Asia Cup, jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to India’s refusal to tour Pakistan due to political tensions, is set to kick off in Multan, followed by additional matches scheduled in Lahore.

India’s matches will take place in Sri Lanka, including the final on September 17, as they opted to compete away from Pakistan. Babar Azam regrets this decision while acknowledging the unavoidable circumstances.

Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka to face India in Pallekele on September 2, followed by a Super Four match in Lahore. The team will then return to Sri Lanka for further matches, including a clash against India in Colombo on September 10.

Despite the demanding schedule, Babar Azam expresses the team’s enthusiasm and readiness to perform at their best. He downplays the hype surrounding India matches and emphasizes that their immediate focus is on the opening game against Nepal.

Azam acknowledges the importance of the first match against Nepal and highlights the team’s dedication to not underestimate any opponent.

Pakistan, India, and Nepal are grouped together in Group A, while defending champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan form Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stages.

Riding high on a 3-0 victory over Afghanistan in Sri Lanka, Pakistan ascended to the top of the ODI rankings.

Nepal, making their debut in the Asia Cup, are eager to offer tough competition to Pakistan and India. Captain Rohit Paudel expresses the team’s enthusiasm and determination to make the most of this valuable opportunity.

Nepal’s skilled spinner Sandeep Lamichhane poses a challenge for Pakistan’s formidable batting lineup, featuring world’s top-ranked batter Azam, Imam-ul-Haq at number three, and Fakhar Zaman at number five.

Around 2000, Indian cricket was rocked by the match-fixing controversy. Indian cricket personality Manoj Prabhakar was banned at that time for a match-fixing scandal.

Nepal has appointed that disturbed personality as the head coach.