Despite the unpredictable weather, England captain Harry Brook asserted at yesterday’s press conference that his team is prepared for all eventualities. His comments came after learning that rain could once again interfere, this time during their Super Eight fixture. Forecasts indicate that similar concerns have emerged for today’s encounter.
At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, the hosts Sri Lanka will take on England at 3:30 pm Bangladesh Standard Time. According to AccuWeather, there is an 87% chance of rainfall during the afternoon, with the likelihood slightly decreasing in the evening to 55%. Rain is expected for at least three hours during the day and around two hours at night. Media reports suggest that completing the full 20-over match could be challenging, with delays possible both at the start and intermittently during play.
AccuWeather Forecast for Pallekele
| Time (Local) | Rain Probability | Expected Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | 49% | Showers possible |
| 2:00 pm | 67% | Intermittent rain |
| 3:00 pm | 74% | Heavy showers likely |
| 4:00 pm | 60% | Rain easing |
| 5:00 pm | 55% | Scattered showers |
| 6:00 pm | 50% | Light rain |
| 7:00 pm | 45% | Possible drizzle |
| 8:00 pm | 45% | Showers tapering off |
There is no reserve day scheduled for Super Eight matches in the T20 World Cup. Reserve days are only allocated for the semi-finals and final, while group-stage matches also proceed without any contingency days. Should rain prevent play today, both teams will be awarded one point each, and the match will be officially declared abandoned.
This scenario is not unprecedented. Yesterday in Colombo, the Super Eight match between Pakistan and New Zealand from Group 2 was washed out due to rain. Sri Lanka and England are also in this group, so if their match is similarly affected, the points table will remain unchanged. Consequently, each team’s upcoming fixtures will become “must-win” encounters.
In the Super Eight stage, every team plays three matches within their group, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Given the weather forecast, teams must now prepare not only for their opponents on the field but also for the unpredictable skies over Pallekele.