The buzz is steadily building towards the India-Pakistan clash that is scheduled on Sunday (February 15) in Colombo. The on-field rivalry may have dimmed considerably in the last decade or so with India dominating the stats but it remains a high-stakes encounter in any major ICC tournament. Throw in the extreme drama that unfolded in the last two weeks and there is a lot of spice created already on both sides.
However, there could be a major obstacle ahead for the marquee fixture. The weather forecast for Sunday in Colombo looks ominous at the moment. According to BBC, the Sri Lankan capital is expected to witness moderate/strong showers from late afternoon towards late evening, with an average precipitation percentage of 40-50 percent expected during this period.
Not just rain but thunderstorms are also predicted for the day and while the groundstaff in Sri Lanka are the best in the world, even they would need some respite from the weather Gods to do their job efficiently. What happens in case of a delayed start? How much extra time is available to prevent losing overs in this fixture?
The India-Pakistan game is scheduled to start at 7 pm local time, which would be 7 pm IST as well. According to ICC's rules and regulations for T20 World Cup 2026, a total of 60 minutes will be given for all games in the group stage and Super 8s. If play starts during this period, no overs will be lost.
The trouble will be if the 60-minute period lapses. Currently, the chances of rain are at its highest from 3 pm local time onwards. If this forecast holds true, rain is likely to reduce only after 10 pm. Which means that a reduced game is likely. However, weather predictions can change over the next 48 hours, so there is hope left for the organizers and fans.
