Rain dampened the spirit of cricket lovers who were eagerly awaiting to catch a glimpse of the Pakistani team, which arrived in Dharamshala [Images] this morning for the three-day tour opener against Board President's XI.

The team, which landed at the Kangra airport at 11 am, was supposed to have a practice session at three in the afternoon but persistent rains rendered it impossible.

Also Read Pak team arrives in New Delhi Imran urges Pak to put up fight 'Pressure will be more on India' TWI to produce Indo-Pak series

The match is slated to begin on Thursday but the inclement weather has left the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association officials a worried lot.

HPCA President Anurag Thakur, who was present along with other officials to welcome the Pakistani team, said he was upset that rains had disrupted the practice session.

"It is sad. We are providing some of the best facilities in the country but we are helpless before nature.

"It is raining in Mohali also. So even there it would have been difficult to practice. You can never predict the weather in Himachal Pradesh, everyone is keeping their fingers crossed," he said.

The higher reaches of Himachal including Dhundi and Patsio received fresh snowfall on Tuesday morning while it was raining in the other parts of the state including Shimla, Solang Nullah, Manali, Rampur and Bhuntar.

The weather forecast for the next few days also does not look bright as rain or snow are likely to disrupt many places in the state, Meteorological Department officials of Chandigarh said.