As the wait for the rain to stop continued, Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood shared his thoughts during a live TV interview, saying, “I can’t predict the weather in Pindi. It doesn’t look good. Maybe the game will start, maybe not. No one really knows.”
Unpredictable Rawalpindi Weather
Bangladesh has an unfortunate history with rain interruptions in ICC tournaments. Between 2015 and 2019, the Tigers had one match abandoned due to rain in three consecutive ICC events.
In the 2015 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy, their matches against Australia were washed out. However, this worked in Bangladesh’s favor, helping them progress to the next round.
Again, in the 2019 World Cup, their game against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to rain. Now, nearly six years later, Najmul Hossain Shanto and his team find themselves in a similar situation.
So far, Bangladesh has had four ICC tournament matches washed out—one of them in the Champions Trophy.
Rain Delays Toss
Even an hour after the scheduled toss time, there was no positive news. The pitch and surrounding areas remained covered, while the umpires inspected the field under umbrellas, but with little hope of improvement.
As the rain continued, the match start time was pushed back. The scheduled toss could not take place due to wet outfield conditions. The umpires planned to inspect the field again at 3 PM Bangladesh time, after which further updates were expected.
Pakistan Leads in Head-to-Head Stats
Despite both teams being in a similar situation in this Champions Trophy, Pakistan holds a significant edge over Bangladesh in head-to-head encounters.
Out of 39 matches played between the two teams, Pakistan has won 34, while Bangladesh has managed just five victories.
In ICC tournaments, Bangladesh famously defeated Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, but in the two subsequent encounters, they failed to secure a win. This will be the first time the two teams face off in the Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh Hopes for a Strong Finish
There’s a saying: “All’s well that ends well.” While a win in the final game won’t change Bangladesh’s fate in the tournament, it would provide a morale boost for the team.
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have already been eliminated from the Champions Trophy, making this match a mere formality. The game was scheduled to start at 3 PM at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but the persistent rain casts doubt over whether it will even take place.
This stadium has already witnessed rain disrupting matches, with an earlier game between Australia and South Africa being abandoned. The weather has also affected practice sessions, preventing both teams from training the previous day.
On match day, the sky remained overcast, with brief spells of drizzle increasing uncertainty. Moreover, Rawalpindi’s drainage system is not the best, adding further concerns about the feasibility of the match.
As Bangladesh looks to end their campaign on a high note, the biggest challenge might not be Pakistan—but the unpredictable weather.
