Live Score

7:03 PM IST, 6:32 PM LOCAL TIME: Uh.. Oh! It is a grim sight for cricket fans in Lahore as the heavens have truly opened up over the Gaddafi Stadium. Live visuals currently show heavy rain lashing down on the venue, and as a result, the ground staff has kept the full covers firmly in place over the pitch and the surrounding square. The intensity of the downpour means we are firmly in a waiting game, with no immediate sign of the covers being peeled back. The toss has officially been delayed.

7:22 PM IST and 6:52 PM Local Time: The intensity of the showers has reduced. Almost stopped. However, the pouring that happened thus far has messed up the ground situation to quite an extent. Puddles have formed all across the ground and the square is firmly under the covers with no movement across the turf. Outside the boundary barricades it has flooded, and water has filled up till ankle-length.  

7:55 PM IST, 7:25 PM LOCAL TIME: There is a bit of a positive shift at the Gaddafi Stadium as the rain has finally stopped completely. While the ground staff has kept the main pitch covers intact for the time being, there is noticeable movement on the field with personnel starting to assess the situation. We are officially on standby for the next major update, which is scheduled for 7:45 PM local time (8:15 PM IST). Given that the heavy downpour has ceased, the next hour will be crucial for the drainage systems to do their work and for the officials to determine if we can still get a game in tonight.

8:20 PM IST, 7:50 PM LOCAL TIME: There is a sense of cautious optimism at the Gaddafi Stadium as the rain has finally ceased, though the task ahead remains monumental for the ground staff. In a detailed update given to Dominic Cork, the umpires (Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob) highlighted that while the pitch itself is well-protected, the field is currently too soft to support heavy machinery, forcing the crew to rely on manual "super stoppers" to clear significant puddling. The umpires emphasized their commitment to getting a game on, even if conditions aren't 100% perfect, stating, "Our utmost effort, at least if we have a 50% situation, it's perfect to have a game... we will try to play." With the wind picking up to assist the drying process, the staff estimates they need roughly 90 minutes to two hours of clear weather to prep the ground. Crucially, the cut-off time for a five-over match has been established as 9:40 PM local time (10:10 PM IST) including the 10-minute break between innings, and while we are now officially losing overs, the officials remain hopeful that a shortened contest can be salvaged if the next 30 minutes show significant drainage progress.

8:30 PM IST, 8 PM LOCAL TIME: The situation at the Gaddafi Stadium has reached a critical phase as we have officially begun losing overs from 7:45 PM local time (8:15 PM IST). Also, the next official update from the umpires is slated for 8:45 PM local time (9:15 PM IST), which will likely determine the final number of overs possible or if the ground is drying fast enough to meet the cut-off time for a five-over shootout. 

9:11 PM IST, 8:41 PM Local Time: One section of the covers protecting the square is finally coming off. However, the fate of this match will be decided only after the upcoming inspection by the umpires, which is supposed to take place in a few minutes.

9:28 PM IST, 8:58 PM LOCAL TIME: There is finally a significant move at the Gaddafi Stadium as the ground staff have started peeling the covers around the pitch. However, the heavy rain has left the outfield littered with stubborn wet patches that will require considerable time and manual labor to dry. While this is a massive boost for the fans, the clock remains the biggest threat - we are already losing overs, and the 9:46 PM local time cut-off for a five-over shootout is looming large. The process is in full swing, but it is truly a race against time.

9:46 PM IST and 9:16 PM Local Time: The last big cover has been taken off from the square. Looks like we might get some play. However, there are two small covers at sweeper and deep midwicket. Wonder why they are still left there. 24 minutes before we hit the cut-off time for the 5-over contest.

9:52 PM IST, 9:22 PM LOCAL TIME: In a disappointing turn of events at the Gaddafi Stadium, the wet patches due to the rain in Lahore have ultimately had the final say, and the match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi has been officially abandoned without a ball being bowled. Despite the best efforts of the ground staff, who worked tirelessly with manual super stoppers and managed to peel back the main pitch covers, the outfield remained too soft and saturated with wet patches to meet the safety standards for play. With the cut-off time approaching and no guarantee of a safe playing surface, the umpires made the tough call to call off the fixture. As a result, both teams will share one point each, a result that leaves both camps frustrated after such a high-stakes buildup, but ensures the safety of the players ahead of a long tournament.

Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Manan Mehta, and scorer Raju Khariya. Also, a special thanks to our helping buddy, Mohammad Anab. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!