Suryakumar to play for India despite rain threat in Pakistan T20 match

Pakistan has reversed its decision to boycott their T20 World Cup match against India, but weather conditions may impact the game. The match is scheduled for Sunday in Colombo.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav stated that his team is not concerned about the potential rain on Sunday’s match. He emphasized that the defending champions are focused on preparing for the upcoming game against their bitter rivals.

Pakistan initially decided to boycott the Group A fixture due to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament over security concerns in India. However, they reversed this decision on Monday.

Weather forecasts predict heavy rain between Sunday afternoon and evening, casting doubt on the match. Suryakumar said that weather is outside of his team’s control. He also stated that the game will not be a routine match for the co-hosts, as it is a high-profile encounter.

Suryakumar noted that India has played similar wickets at home and has experience playing in Colombo during bilateral matches against Sri Lanka. He added that the team will try to execute their practiced skills during the game.

India and Pakistan have both won two games each in the tournament so far. Suryakumar also mentioned that his team is prepared to face Usman Tariq, a spinner with an unorthodox action who took three wickets for Pakistan during Tuesday’s win over the United States.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had previously stated that Tariq was a key player against India. Suryakumar said that his team practices with similar bowlers and will try to execute their practiced skills in the game. He also expressed hope that Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, who is the highest-ranked batter in the 20-over format, will play on Sunday after missing the previous game due to illness.

Source: Al Jazeera