PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 26 April 2004 — Rain and unplayable conditions forced the abandonment of the third One-Day International between West Indies and England without a ball being bowled yesterday.
Umpires Aleem Dar of Pakistan and Billy Doctrove of Dominica were to inspect the Queen’s Park Oval outfield for a second time at 1630 GMT, but the rain started again just prior to their inspection.
Although the day started in bright sunshine, a wet outfield prevailed at Queen’s Park Oval, after heavy rains on Saturday drenched the ground.
Only 16 overs of cricket were possible on Saturday and forced a no-result in the second ODI that started an hour late.
The Queen’s Park Oval outfield had been underwater — knee deep in some parts — on Saturday and prompted a few spectators to attempt to literally swim around the ground, after umpires Darrell Hair of Australia and Doctrove made the decision to call off play for the day just before 1700 GMT. England lead the series 1-0, after winning the opening game last Sunday at Georgetown by two wickets with three balls to spare. The next match is on Wednesday at neighboring Grenada’s Queen’s Park Stadium.
England won the preceding four-Test series 3-0
Indian and Pakistani Sides to Play for $100,000 in UAE
The revitalized rivalry between India and Pakistan will be played out again in a day-night encounter for the record prize money of $100,000 in Abu Dhabi on May 14.
The emirate has stumped up the highest stake for the one-day Sheikh Zayed Cricket Cup at the new 20,000-capacity Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Saurav Ganguly will lead a near full-strength Indian XI against a Pakistan team captained by Inzaman ul-Haq, according to Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Control Board and United Arab Emirates minister for higher education.
The 50 overs game will not be an official One-Day International.
