The Asia Cup 2023 has reached its exciting Super 4 stage, promising fans thrilling cricket action. After a somewhat damp group stage due to rain interruptions, the competition is set to intensify as favourite teams from both groups advance. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are now ready to battle it out in the Super 4s.

Super 4 Kick-off

The Super 4 stage commenced with a match between Pakistan and Bangladesh on September 6 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Cricket enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting this stage after a somewhat subdued group stage. Unfortunately, the high-octane clash between India and Pakistan in the group stage was curtailed by rain, leaving fans craving for more thrilling encounters. Nevertheless, the last group-stage match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan did provide some excitement as Afghanistan came close to qualifying for the Super 4s but fell short by just two runs.

Super 4 Teams

In the Super 4s, the top teams from both groups have advanced. India and Pakistan from Group A and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from Group B have earned their spots in this crucial stage. The fans are hopeful that the Super 4s will deliver the excitement that was expected in the group stage.

India's Super 4 Campaign Begins

India, one of the favourites in the tournament, will kick off their Super 4 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 10, in Colombo. This match promises to be a highly anticipated clash, but the weather forecast might put a damper on the excitement.

Match Schedule and Broadcast Information

The Super 4 matches in the Asia Cup 2023 are scheduled to start at 3:00 PM (IST) on every matchday. Cricket enthusiasts can catch the action on the Star Sports Network via television broadcast. For those looking for free live streaming options, the Disney+ Hotstar app and website will provide access to the matches.

Colombo Weather Concerns

Despite the anticipation surrounding the India vs. Pakistan clash in Colombo, there are concerns about the weather. The weather forecast suggests a 70 per cent chance of rain in the morning, which could potentially disrupt the match. While temperatures are expected to drop during the day, the rain threat remains high, especially at the start of the match. In the evening, the rain may intensify, further jeopardizing the chances of a full game.

Even with Colombo's good drainage system, heavy and continuous rainfall could still disrupt the IND vs. PAK Super 4 match. Initially, there were talks of relocating the tournament to Hambantota to avoid the rain, but the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed that all matches would proceed as planned in Colombo.

Indian Squad

Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (Reserve).

Pakistan Sqaud

Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

Conclusion

As the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 stage unfolds, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await thrilling matches. The clash between India and Pakistan in Colombo is one of the most anticipated encounters, though weather concerns loom large. Despite the rain threat, fans hope for an exciting and uninterrupted Super 4 stage that lives up to their expectations.