Key Points
- Fans reconsider plans as rain predicted for Pakistan-India clash
- 15 to 30 mm of rainfall is predicted on Sunday 23 October 2022
- Cricket lovers from all over the world will descend on Melbourne Cricket Ground for the sold-out match
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a 90 percent chance of rain on Sunday 23 October 2022, the day the two archrivals go head-to-head at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Some 15 to 30 mm of rainfall is predicted on the day.
“Cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming north-easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day,” the forecast reads.
The two countries haven't played a bilateral cricket series since 2013 due to political tensions.
Not surprisingly, fans from all over the world will descend on Melbourne Cricket Ground for the sold-out match.
Pakistan fan Syed Raheel Mustafa was planning to travel by road from Sydney to Melbourne, with an overnight stop in Albury, as part of a convoy of three families in five vehicles. But now they are rethinking the whole trip.
“We are looking at the situation and as rain is now predicted, I don’t think that we will go to Melbourne in these circumstances. The fuel prices are already high, and we have booked hotels at a higher price, so it might be better to pull out,” he says.
Mr Mustafa, who has also taken a day off on Monday for the match, says he had been planning the trip for a long time, so it will be disappointing, but he doesn’t want to go to Melbourne “for nothing”.
Ajaz Beg and his two friends, Nadeem and Amjad Hussain, are travelling to Australia from the UK to support Pakistan.
They are coming down under for the first time in seven years, when Australia last hosted the world cup, and have high expectations about Sunday’s match.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 22: The covers are put into place as heavy rain stops play during the Commonwealth Series One Day International match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 22, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) Credit: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
“We are coming from the other side of the world and we want to see this contest,” Mr Beg says.
As big cricket fans, Ajaz and his friends anticipate a close match if it does go ahead.
“We are just hoping for a match, even it is a 10-over match, otherwise we will be disappointed,” he adds.
Hasnain Ali Badri is a Perth-based India fan, who has cancelled his plan to go to Melbourne for a week.
“Where can we go with this unpredictable weather? I have three kids with me, so it would be difficult for me to go in rainy weather. With a heavy heart I have had to cancel my flight and hotel booking,” Mr Badri says.
Bushra Kalam lives in Cairns. She had been excited to go to Melbourne, but her plans are now up in the air, too.
“According to my plan, I have to leave on Thursday morning by road with my husband. We cannot delay any longer period. We have to make our decision by Wednesday.”
She’s also concerned about the potential for flooding in Victoria.
Zeeshan Iqbal, another cricket fan from Sydney, is already in Melbourne ahead of the match and remains hopeful that the match will go ahead.
“We have events planned before the match and rain on that day will spoil everything,” he says.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 29: Heavy rain falls after the players leave the field during a rain delay during day four of the Second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images) Credit: Scott Barbour - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Imag
Regarding the semi-finals and final, it says, “Only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match (at least 5 overs per side) cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day,” the statement says.
