Ground staff use electric fans to dry outfield during India versus Pakistan Asia Cup fixture

India and Pakistan are facing each other in the third match in the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo. After Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a flying start. However, Pakistan bounced back by dismissing the openers in quick succession to reduce India to 123/2 in 17.5 overs.

A fit-again KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were starting to build a decent partnership before rain stopped play. After the rain subsided, the ground staff were spotted using a unique technique to dry the outfield. They were seen using a few electric fans to quicken the process of drying the outfield.

Earlier in the day, Rohit and Shubman took the attack to the dangerous Pakistan pace attack. The latter gave a few half chances, but Pakistan failed to latch on. Their 121-run partnership ended when Rohit miscued one to long-off fielder Faheem Ashraf off Shadab Khan. Shubman also perished in the very next over as he hit a fullish delivery straight to Salman Ali Agha at cover.

India were poised at 147/2 in 24.1 overs when rain stopped play. After a lot of waiting, the umpires decided that further play wouldn't be possible on the day. Therefore, the match will shift to the reserve day on Monday, September 11, and India will start their innings from 147/2 in what would remain a 50-over contest.

The Men in Green will be able to come up with better plans, as they might not have expected KL Rahul to be picked in the Indian XI. However, unfortunately, the forecast isn't too promising for Monday, with an 80 per cent chance of precipitation predicted. After the previous encounter between these two sides ended in No Result in Pallekele, fans will hope for the rain Gods to be a bit more kind on the reserve day.