Typhoon Dujuan could affect India-Japan Suzuki Cup T20I in Sano on September 22

India and Japan’s T20I in the Suzuki Cup at Sano on September 22 could be affected by Typhoon Dujuan, with heavy rain and strong winds forecast across eastern Japan ahead of the match.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of torrential rain, flooding and landslides as the storm moves toward the Pacific coast, and India’s scheduled training session on Monday was cancelled because of adverse weather and a wet outfield at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. The cancellation deprived India of planned practice time to familiarise with the playing conditions. The fixture is the first meeting between India and Japan in men’s international cricket and is being staged as part of the Suzuki Cup and celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Local forecasts for Sano call for cloudy conditions with showers possible during the day and thunderstorms also a possibility; forecasters warned that afternoon rain could make match-day conditions difficult, particularly if the outfield remains waterlogged from earlier downpours.

The wider Kanto region, which includes Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures, has already recorded heavy rainfall, with more than 300 mm of rain reported in parts of eastern Japan since Saturday, including the Izu Islands and areas along the Pacific coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency has cautioned that linear rain bands could develop, bringing intense rainfall and increasing the risk of flash floods.

AccuWeather has noted a chance of rain around 4 PM and 5 PM local time, which it said could lead to delays or interruptions to play. Forecast conditions for the area include temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius and humidity in the high 80s.

The match also carries preparatory significance: it will act as a warm-up for the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games, where India will defend the men’s cricket gold medal won at Hangzhou 2022, and it offers Japan the opportunity to test itself against the reigning T20 World Cup champions and the world’s top-ranked T20I side.

The fixture remains scheduled for September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture and, if played as planned, will form part of both Suzuki Cup proceedings and the teams’ build-up to the Asian Games.