India versus Pakistan Asia Cup 2023: Match called off; both team share points

India was bundled out for 266 despite aggressive fifties by Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan.

Pallekele (Sri Lanka): The much-anticipated India versus Pakistan match on Saturday was called off due to rains at the Pallekele International Stadium here. The two Asian giants will share the points, even as Pakistan have qualified for the Super 4 stage of the tournament. The Babar Azam-led team had thrashed minnows Nepal by 238 runs in their first game at Multan.

India now will need to beat Nepal in their second league game to make it to the Super 4 stage.

Earlier, India rode on Hardik Pandya's scintillating 87 coupled with Ishan Kishan's quick-fire 82 off 81 balls to post an above-par 266 in their Asia Cup opener against Pakistan here on Saturday.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya fell just 13 short of his maiden ODI hundred. At one stage, India was in deep trouble and languishing at 66/4 after their top-order faltered big time, thanks to a stupendous show by Pakistani pacers led by Shaheen Afridi (4/35).

India's famed top order comprising skipper Rohit Sharma (11), Shubman Gill (10), charismatic former skipper Virat Kohli (4) and Shreyas Iyer (14), who made a comeback to the national side, fell cheaply as Rohit Sharma's decision to opt to bat backfired.
While star pacer Shaheen Afridi cleaned up both Rohit and Kohli to put the Men in Blue on the back foot, his partner Haris Rauf (3/58) got the better of Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.
However, a young Ishan Kishan, who has shown in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) along with senior pro Hardik Pandya, had other ideas. The duo mixed caution with aggression and pulled India out of the trouble. The duo notched up a crucial 138-run stand for the fifth wicket to bring India back into contention.
Initially, Ishan, who hammered nine boundaries and two sixes was aggressive, but soon Hardik got into his groove and took the Opposition attack to task. However, it was Haris Rauf once again, who gave Pakistan the much-needed breakthrough when he got rid of Ishan, who was caught by rival skipper Babar Azam.

After Ishan departed, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined Hardik but the former failed to provide the final flourish. After Ishan and Hardik's dismissals, the Indian lower order also faltered as the Indian innings folded up for 266.

For Pakistan, pacer Naseem Shah (3/36) also played his part to perfection.