RAWALPINDI: Persistent rain that lashed out the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Tuesday forced the abandonment of an important Australia-South Africa Champions Trophy match at the Pindi Stadium.
The match was called off late Tuesday evening as continuous rain left the field soggy with water seen all around on the covers that kept the square dry. There was no reprieve at all from the rain throughout the day.
The ground-men and the crowd that turned in numbers kept waiting throughout the day for the rain to stop. The continuous rain ultimately forced field umpires and the match referee to call off the match late Tuesday evening.
Both the teams secured one point each. South Africa and Australia now have three points each. Both teams are occupying top spots in Group B with one win and one tie. England and Afghanistan teams which will be pitted against each other on Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have yet to open their account. In case of England win against Afghanistan on Wednesday, the match between England and South Africa at the National Stadium Karachi on March 1 will be a virtual quarter-final.
England will have to win the next two matches to make it to the semis. Australia which now has one remaining match against Afghanistan on February 28 in Lahore is better placed for making it to the semis from Group B.
Group A fortunes have already been decided with both New Zealand and India confirming their places in the semis. Which one of the two will finish at the top of the Group A table, will be known after the March 2 match scheduled at the Dubai Sports City Ground.
Officially all the tickets for Tuesday’s Australia-South Africa match were sold out. Almost five to six thousand fans waited patiently at the Pindi Stadium for the rain to stop. They were even seen waiting in the open air, getting the taste of rain and even praying for the early start of the match. The rain kept on pouring into the disappointment of the crowd as the match was officially called off at around 5 pm.
Australian and South Africa team members were also seen waiting anxiously in the players’ pavilion at the Pindi Stadium for the rain to stop. The teams reached the ground early Tuesday morning and stayed at the ground till the time the umpires called off the match.