GCA to refund if rain abandons Ind-Aus ODI
"In case it rains and the match gets washed out , we will refund the money to the ticket-holders."
Margao: The Goa Cricket Association (GC) on Saturday promised to refund ticket-holders if the third and final one-dayer between India and Australia is washed out here on Sunday.
The GCA is, however, hoping that the match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be held despite unseasonal rains threatening to play spoilsport.
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“If it does not rain (from now on) and normal sunshine is there tomorrow morning, the match will start on time," said Goa cricket association’s president Dayanand Narvekar at a press conference this afternoon.
“In case it rains and the match gets washed out without a ball being bowled, we will refund the money to the ticket-holders. The match is insured for Rs. 1 crore," Narvekar said.
After heavy rains a few days ago, it finally seems that the match would be held as scheduled but last evening’s heavy rains – which continued until this morning – put the organisers on tenterhooks.
The ground staff had to work hard to remove the water from the tarpaulin which covered 90 per cent of the ground.
The Indian and Australian teams’ morning practice sessions were cancelled due to inclement weather but both the teams came out to practice in the afternoon following improved conditions.
With the sun too coming out in the afternoon, umpire Billy Bowden and match referee Chris Broad, who inspected the pitch, gave positive signals that the match will start on Sunday, stated Narvekar.
“The umpires will have their first inspection tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. and second, if needed, at 11:30 a.m.," Narvekar said.
“The pitch is excellent and there is no drop of water in the 30-yard circle. Except for some wet patches near the boundary lines, which we will remove by using saw dust, the ground conditions are good," he stated.
However, the met department here has been predicting heavy rains over the next 48 hours.
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