DELHI – A dangerous cyclone has forced the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) to cancel tomorrow’s third One-Day International between India and West Indies scheduled for Visakhapatnam.
Cyclone Hudhud battered the east coast city of Visakhapatnam yesterday 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.
BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur confirmed to cricket website, Cricinfo, that the contest at the ACA-VDCA 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 had remained in Delhi along with hosts India. All flights to Visakhapatnam have been suspended.
Arrangements are now being made for both teams to travel to Dharamshala on Tuesday or Wednesday for the fourth ODI carded for the HPCA Stadium on Friday, the Windies team official also said. The five-match series has been reduced to four games.
Gokaraju Gangaraju, secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association, had said on Saturday they were hopeful the game could be played. He said the pitch and the entire outfield were already under covers, and all the necessary machinery was on standby to begin mopping up operations following the storm.
However, Hudhud moved through the area yesterday with ferocity, leaving three dead in Andhra Pradesh and another three in Orissa. (CMC)
