Champions Trophy: 40% chance of rain & thunderstorms during match, say weathermen

Image: AP Photo/Representational

New Delhi: Ahead of the Champions Trophy finals between India and Pakistan today, according to weather.com, there is a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon in London's The Oval. As per weathermen at Skymet Weather, rain may occur during the India and Pakistan match. Interestingly, 10 years ago, both countries met in an ICC Final for the first time and what a match it proved to be. September 24, 2007 was the day. India won the first ever World T20 over our traditional rival Pakistan. Now after 10 years, with the increasing anticipation around the cricket duel between India and Pakistan, the clash is no longer seen as just another cricket match; it has transformed into a sign of patriotism, a moment that sees no barriers in terms of caste, creed or religion. UP: People in Varanasi hold special prayers for India's victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy finals/ANI A true testament to the momentary dispersion of barriers based on religious beliefs, demography and so on was witnessed earlier on Saturday in Kanpur, where a group of Hindus and Muslims offered prayers together at the Balaji Temple here for India to emerge victorious. One of the bystanders who participated in this pooja said, "It is time for Pakistan to be defeated again. We believe in our faith and we are sure that India will play exceedingly well and bring home the trophy." UP: People in Kanpur hold special prayers for India's victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy finals/ANI Reiterating this, the priest of the temple who performed the pooja added that this is being done for the welfare of the Indian cricket team as well as for soldiers at the border. In Varanasi, Muslims during the holy month of Ramzan held a special session to pray for the victory of the Indian cricket team. The finals of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Champions Trophy 2017, which will be held today at The Oval, London, will witness the two Asian neighbours lock horns in a much-awaited grand finale. The two teams, who have battled their way to the top, will be coming head-to-head for the fifth time, with two victories each to their kitty. The Men in Blue have won all three of their previous matches against Pakistan in the knockout stages of ICC tournaments to date and it is but obvious that they would start going into the finals as favourites. (With inputs from ANI)