The Hunnasgiriya ranges, which adorn one side of the Pallekele Stadium’s backdrop and are set along the boundary lines, catch your eye just as quickly as the rolled-up covers. Along with keeping the coverings in place, the ground staff is also busy maintaining the scoreboard and large screens. While the late monsoon threatens to devastate the Asia Cup, they had their eyes firmly fixed on the dark clouds kissing the tops of magnificent peaks. Prior to the fiery Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match on Thursday and much more so for the Saturday match between India and Pakistan, fans would be keeping an eye on weather apps. Thunderstorms are 90% likely, according to Accuweather, seriously casting the match in doubt.
The outfield on a grey day when the sun rarely broke through the thick clouds told a tale by itself. Due to the significant amount of rain that fell the previous evening, the outfield stayed so wet on one of the square edges that there were some areas where one could walk over and still leave a footprint.
On Tuesday, the weather was also similar. It was impossible to overlook the ominous clouds travelling quickly towards Kandy, which is only 30 minutes away from the stadium, on the trip from Colombo to Pallekele. One sure hint of things to come was when some of the roadside merchants selling delicate coconut started to swap them out for umbrellas. Raincoats were quickly put on by two-wheeler riders, and it was difficult to see a tuk-tuk that hadn’t rolled down its covers.
Schedule that is unusual
Even though the monsoon has finally arrived after a delay, Sri Lankan cricket matches often take place in August and September. The heavily indebted SLC typically steers clear at this time due of the high likelihood of evening showers. In the south-east part of the island, Hambantotta, one of its notable venues, is yet to host an ODI in September.
Only one of the 33 ODIs played at the venue took place in September, while only two were played in the final week of August. It’s not just limited to Pallekele. Even Colombo, which will host the Super Four stage and the final, often has a lot of rain in September. It essentially implies that the Asia Cup, a crucial stop before the World Cup, is at the whim of the weather.
Only 28 matches were held in the R Premadasa Stadium in September, despite the fact that it has been the site of games since 1986. In reality, it has only hosted nine ODIs this month because the 2002 Champions title, which featured two back-to-back finals and left India and Sri Lanka to share the title, was rained out. The only competition that continued past the first week of September was a tri-series involving the hosts, India, and New Zealand.
Scenic backdrop
The audience would be in for a visual feast, both literally and metaphorically, if the clouds parted. The stadium’s surroundings might not be as aesthetically beautiful as those in Dharamsala or Cape Town. However, this stadium, built after Sri Lanka Cricket laid to rest the iconic Asgiriya, is among the most picturesque in all of cricket. It almost has the appearance of a basin positioned between mountains. The only operating stadium in Sri Lanka’s hill highlands is made even more beautiful by the sparse concrete structures and grass banks on either side of the square.
It has hosted all versions of the game since it first hosted international cricket in 2009, making it one of the island’s few permanent venues. The Asia Cup’s landing on the hillside has mixed feelings for a region that depends largely on tourists. The tourism industry has been excitedly anticipating the tournament’s start since it would rekindle two major rivalries, Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka and India vs. Pakistan, and because fans are expected to swarm the area because of the many scenic locations nearby.
The area’s resorts and hotels are already full. The majority of rooms are being booked at higher rates than usual, and eateries are stocking up in case business picks up. They were keeping track of the passing minutes while grimacing at the unexpected or tardy arrival of rain.
However, it is challenging to point the finger at the cricket association or the location. Colombo and Pallekele were not the Asian Cricket Council’s first choices for host cities because Sri Lanka was already confirmed as one of the tournament’s hosts for the hybrid Asia Cup. According to information obtained, the SLC preferred to hold the competition in Dambulla, a dry area in the country’s centre that typically doesn’t get any rain at the time. Only three of the 56 One-Day Internationals have been cancelled, and those three took place in the months of August, March, and October.
But it is understood that the Indian team, which hasn’t been to Dambulla since 2010, flatly refused to play there. Pallekele and Colombo then entered the scene. The rains have made the residents, many of whom depend on agriculture and tourism, happy. Since Wednesday was the final day of the Poya festival, the onset of the monsoon provided even more cause for celebration.
But regardless of the weather, they have additional reasons to celebrate and provide gracious hospitality because a sold-out crowd is anticipated for the India versus Pakistan game on Saturday.
