ISLAMABAD: Rain with wind / thunderstorm is predicted in the country from today to Friday, which may affect the first cricket test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan is all set to host its first test match in a decade today, when they take on the islanders in Rawalpindi, since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted rain in the city from Thursday to Saturday, meaning the second, third and fourth days of the test match are likely to be affected by rain.

A westerly wave located over Iran and its adjoining areas is likely to approach western parts of the country today and is expected to grip most parts of the country on Thursday. Under the influence of this weather system, scattered rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in upper districts of Balochistan during Wednesday and Thursday. Light to moderate rain-thunderstorm is also expected in Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi) from today (night) to Thursday.

Widespread rain-thunderstorm (with snowfall over hills) is expected in most districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad from today night to Friday. Isolated heavy falls are also expected in districts of Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal and Islamabad on Thursday.—TAHIR AMIN