NEW DELHI, India, CMC – Dangerous Cyclone Hudhud has forced the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) to cancel tomorrow’s third One-Day International between India and West Indies scheduled for Visakhapatnam.The weather system battered the port city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday with winds of up to 205 kilometres per hour, killing six people across two states, causing widespread damage and forcing the evacuation of 350 000 residents.
While the BCCI is yet to make a formal announcement regarding the game, BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur confirmed to cricket website, Cricinfo that the contest at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium would not go ahead.
“Due to extreme weather conditions, the BCCI has had to cancel the ODI. It is disappointing but we cannot overcome natural calamities,” Thakur said.
“Even though the host association was hopeful of staging the match if weather cleared, the BCCI didn’t want to take any risk.”
West Indies were due to travel to the Indian east coast yesterday for the game but a team official confirmed to CMC Sports they have remained in Delhi along with hosts India, as all flights to Visakhapatnam have been suspended.
Arrangements are now being made for both teams to travel to Dharamshala tomorrow or Wednesday for the fourth ODI carded for the HPCA Stadium on Friday, the Windies team official also said, with the five-match series being reduced to four games.
Meanwhile, Windies skipper Dwayne Bravo will forfeit 40 per cent of his match fee after West Indies were fined for a slow over rate during the second One-Day International against India in New Delhi on Saturday last.
International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, Jeff Crowe, imposed the fines after the Caribbean side was ruled to be two overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration and the Windies players will part with 20 per cent of their match fee for the breach.
According to ICC regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
If Bravo is found guilty of another minor over-rate offence in ODIs over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension.