The electrifying atmosphere that makes a cricket match between India and Pakistan a pulsating spectacle was absent during their Asia Cup Super 4 match here on Sunday.
The spectators once again stayed away from one of the most storied cricketing rivalries despite it being a weekend, just as it was the case during the Indo-Pak league match at Pallekele.
The organisers were expecting to see a good turnout as Colombo has a good representation of Indians and Pakistanis.
In fact, back in 2012, during the World T20 game between the same teams, the Premadasa Stadium was jam-packed. As it has been in Mirpur, Melbourne, Adelaide, Dubai, Birmingham, London or Manchester throughout the better part of the last decade.
The local administrators were understandably disappointed despite them not having any financial stake in the match, as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is the official host.
"With the rain staying away, we were expecting a good turnout. But tickets are still available offline and online. In fact, the ticket rate too has been slashed but we are yet to see a big rush. Hopefully, it will pick up," said an SLC official.
Sri Lanka Cricket has also tweeted about the price reduction of tickets for all the Super 4 matches, including the one between India and Pakistan.
The price of C and D Upper Block tickets at the Premadasa Stadium has been slashed to LKR 1000 while the rate for C and D Lower Block tickets is now fixed at LKR 500.
However, the price reduction is applicable only to the Super 4 matches as the prices will be restored for the final scheduled on September 17.
So, what could have been the reason behind the crowd staying away from this much-anticipated match?
"Perhaps, it was because of the rain prediction that people don't want to take a chance, or may be the local interest is not there," the SLC official said.
However, the Super 4 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Saturday too saw several empty spaces in the stands.But a PCB official said the selection of the venue itself was far from ideal.
"It is tough to organise cricket matches in Sri Lanka at this time of the year as it rains there more often than not. But then, a decision has been made and now we have to go ahead," the official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
PTI n Dubai
The Australian men's ODI team, after being briefly dislodged by Pakistan, is back at the top of the ICC rankings following its second successive win over South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Fine centuries by David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne set up a 123-run victory for Australia in the second ODI on Saturday, helping them take a 2-0 lead in five-match series.
Australia smashed 392 for 8, their third highest ODI total, and bowled out South Africa for 269 with 8.1 overs to spare. The visitors had beaten South Africa by three wickets on Thursday and can clinch the series if they win the third ODI at the same venue on Tuesday.
Australia, with 121 rating points following the win, overtook Pakistan by one point. India, with 114 rating points, are third on the ICC rankings.
Australian, after a few hiccups late last year, have been the dominant ODI side. They lost a closely-fought series against Sri Lanka away from home in 2022, which was followed by a humbling defeat to Zimbabwe in a dead rubber after having won the series.
However, Australia followed that with a 3-0 defeat of traditional rivals New Zealand at home and then whitewashed England 3-0 at home in November last year.
They then achieved major success, defeating India in India in March 2023, followed by successive wins against South Africa in the ongoing series.
The equations might change again with Pakistan currently playing in the Asia Cup at home and in Sri Lanka.