Rain threat looms large over the first ODI between India and Afghanistan at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday.Heavy downpour lashed the town since morning, casting a dark cloud over the opening match of the bilateral series. Rain covers are on at the ground with a sparse crowd waiting for the match to begin.The weatherman has predicted moderate rain for the next three to four hours.Toss has been delayed due to rain. Umpires will inspect the ground once the rain abates. If the rain continues after 2:30 pm, the match might be curtailed.The groundstaff has covered the pitch and square area, but the outer field was exposed to rain till the afternoon.With rain and breezy weather conditions, fast bowlers of both sides will look to make a mark on a batting-friendly wicket, weather permitting.The toss will play an important role in such conditions, with the team winning it likely to be tempted to bat first.The mighty Dhauladhars are covered with a thin layer of snow at some places, with rain-bearing clouds hanging precariously. Usual traffic chaos on match day is also missing as government offices and schools are closed on Saturday and Jattvibeday.Tourists who had planned their hill outing keeping the match in mind are a tad disappointed, but are making last-minute changes in their schedule to soak in the rainy weather in peak summer.Overnight rain plummeted the temperature to around 15°C in the town, making it a pleasant getaway from the searing heat in the plains where daytime temperatures are around 35°C.Doraha resident Kamlesh Mahajan, who is here with five members of his family for the past three days, said, “We had planned an extended weekend trip to Dharamsala with one day reserved for the match, but rain has taken away this opportunity. We will be heading to the nearby War Memorial and scenic Talnu village, with an evening probably at Chinmaya Tapovan near Sidhbari.”The Shubman Gill-led side is looking to get back to winning ways in ODIs after losing three of their last five matches, including a series defeat to New Zealand at home. Afghanistan, ranked No. 7 in ODIs, will aim for a fifth consecutive win.The second ODI will be played in Lucknow on June 17, while Chennai will host the final match on June 20.