As India-Pakistan resumes their storied cricket rivalry at Asia Cup today, UK PM Sunak's words on shared "passion for cricket" resonate. Sharing a photo of his bilateral talks with PM Modi, Sunak wrote on social media handle X: “Two nations, one ambition. An ambition rooted in our shared values, the connection between our people and – of course – our passion for cricket.” Though rain threatens to disrupt the game, a light breeze blowing in Colombo might scatter the clouds. The teams get another chance on the reserve day if the weather intervenes on Sunday. Amid the serious G20 deliberations, will leaders Modi and Sunak also keep one eye on cricket updates? For now, fans hope the Colombo clouds dissipate and Sunak's stated passion for cricket manifests in a spirited on-field contest.

The crucial India-Pakistan Asia Cup match on September 10 and reserve day on September 11 face extreme rain threats in Colombo. Forecasts show over 90% chance of heavy showers on both days, putting the arch-rivals' clash at risk. The ACC has announced if rain interrupts play on Sunday, the game will resume from the stoppage point on Monday. But weather portals predict heavy downpours on the reserve day too. With over 66% precipitation probability during match hours, fans fear a damp squib like the washed-out India-Pakistan league game.

India (probable) XI: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj. India take on arch rivals Pakistan in a crucial Asia Cup Super 4 clash on September 10 in Colombo. 

Pakistan (probable) XI: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Agha Salman, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Nawaz/Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Haris Rauf. Pakistan will enter the high-voltage India clash on the back of a thumping win over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup Super 4 opener. 

India and Pakistan will resume their fierce cricket rivalry in a high-stakes Asia Cup clash on Sunday in Colombo. The crunch tie is likely to see the comeback of KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah to India's ODI XI after long injury layoffs. Rahul will probably replace in-form Ishan Kishan who has slammed four straight ODI fifties. Bumrah has rejoined the squad after missing the Nepal match for fatherhood. Their selection together may come at the cost of Kishan and Shami amid intense competition. Sunday's contest gives Rahul and Bumrah the chance to showcase match readiness ahead of the World Cup.

Ahead of India's crucial Asia Cup Super 4 clash against Pakistan, star batter Virat Kohli met and shared his cricketing experiences with budding Sri Lankan players. In a video released by BCCI, Kohli emphasized the importance of preparation, fitness, and focusing on minute details to succeed. With rain forcing their previous group match to be abandoned, India will look to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan when they meet again on Sept 10. The ACC has announced a reserve day on September 11 if rain plays spoilsport again. India will hope to continue their unbeaten Asia Cup record against Pakistan as they aim for a record 8th title. (Video Courtesy: BCCI)

Former India cricket captain MS Dhoni played golf with former US President Donald Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. This occurred a day after Dhoni watched the US Open quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. Images of Dhoni and Trump golfing together were shared on social media by Dubai businessman Hitesh Sanghvi. Dhoni has been spending time away from cricket after leading Chennai Super Kings to their latest IPL title. The sports icon was hosted by Trump to play golf at the Trump club.

During the Asia Cup match, Nepal's cricket fans had much to cheer about despite their team's loss to a stronger Indian side. Aasif Sheikh's impressive half-century and Nepal's competitive total of 230 were bright spots for the underdog team. Even more heartwarming was the post-match camaraderie when the Indian team paid a visit to the Nepalese dressing room. In a touching gesture, they interacted with the Nepali players and presented medals as a sign of appreciation. The exchange of goodwill and respect between the teams transcended the boundaries of competition, leaving a lasting impression on both sides.

The BCCI will unveil India's 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 today, the deadline for all teams to submit their final rosters. The World Cup squad is expected to closely resemble the current Asia Cup team, with few changes. Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna and Sanju Samson may face exclusion but could be named reserves. This World Cup on home soil represents a golden opportunity for India to lift the 50-over trophy after falling short in the last two editions. With a roster now free of injury issues, India heads into the tournament ready to battle for the ultimate prize in cricket. As hosts, history beckons for India at this landmark event. (Image courtesy: BCCI on X)

India crushed Nepal by 10 wickets in their final Asia Cup 2023 Group A match to qualify for the Super 4 stage. Chasing 190, openers Rohit Sharma (74* off 53) and Shubman Gill (67* off 56) steered India home comfortably with 17 balls left. The dominant win seals India's spot behind group toppers Pakistan with 3 points. Nepal put up a brave fight batting first but fell well short as Indian bowlers excelled. Rohit and Gill then tore into the chase with aggressive strokeplay to overwhelm their opponent. India's thumping victory sets up an exciting Super 4 campaign starting on Sunday. [photo: BCCI]