India vs Japan T20I under threat of rain as Typhoon Dujuan hovers over historic clash

Japan will host India in a historic one-off T20 International in Sano on Tuesday, which will be the biggest match in the country’s cricket history and will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.The match was announced recently and was scheduled ahead of India’s Asian Games campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.On paper, it’s a one-sided contest. India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions, while Japan are ranked 41st in the format.However, for Japan’s players, the match is a chance to play against one of the biggest teams in world cricket. Most of the Japanese team members are second-generation Japanese citizens of dual descent.Typhoon threat over major facilityPreparations for the match were affected by Typhoon Dujuan and heavy rain in San raised concerns about whether it would be possible to play.India’s practice on Monday was canceled due to rain. Japan’s previous match against Hong Kong on 20 September was also abandoned without a ball being thrown.The Japan Cricket Association is now hoping the weather will improve and the country’s drainage system can cope with the rain.“It’s been going on in the background of Japanese cricket for many, many years and it’s great now that we’re above sea level, I think, and we’re actually visible to a few more people,” Japan Cricket Association chief operating officer Alan Curr said, as quoted by PTI.“A lot of success has almost happened. The fact that India has agreed to come, the fact that I’m sitting here talking to you, the fact that a lot of Japanese media will come tomorrow to learn more about this game and this sport – I think the success is already here,” he added.Sano hosts the biggest match in Japanese cricketThe match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground, about 100 kilometers from Tokyo, where the Indian team arrived on Sunday.Sano has become known as the “Cricket Capital of Japan” and is one of the major centers of the sport in the country.The ground has a capacity of around 2,000 spectators, although a larger crowd is expected for the India match. The field is also used for baseball.