ODI WC: 3400 kilometer journey wasted, Team India could not play a single ball; BCCI is again under the scanner

Pankaj Prasad
Practice matches cancelled due to rain
Practice matches cancelled due to rain

Before the ODI World Cup, India had to play two practice matches.

ODI World Cup 2023 is starting from October 5. Before the World Cup, all the teams were given some practice matches for preparation. Host India also had to play two practice matches, but both of India's practice matches were washed out due to rain. Not only India but other teams also suffered huge losses due to this. A total of 10 practice matches were to be played before the World Cup. Seven of these were disrupted due to rain. Not even a single ball could be bowled in three matches. In such a situation, questions are again being raised on BCCI and ICC.

Most of the practice matches were held in Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram, which receive heavy rainfall. Due to this, all the teams faced problems and none of the teams could practice properly. Host India suffered the most loss. The Indian team traveled 3,400 km to play the practice match. Despite this, India did not get a chance to practice a single ball. Apart from India, all the teams have played at least 10 overs in the practice match.

India's second practice match at the Cricket World Cup was abandoned without a single ball being bowled on Tuesday. In this match, India was to face Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram, but no play took place due to torrential rain. On Saturday, the match against defending champions England in the north-eastern city of Guwahati was also washed out due to rain. Overall, bad weather has so far led to the cancellation of three practice matches while three others have been affected by rain, leaving teams and players frustrated ahead of the start of the tournament on Thursday.

Both of the Netherlands' practice matches were also abandoned due to rain, including Saturday's match against Australia, which ended in a no-result due to rain after 14.2 overs of play. This match was also played in Thiruvananthapuram, so that Netherlands did not have to travel unnecessarily. However, the weather is expected to remain clear in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Dharamshala for the first three days of the tournament.

England will take on New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Pakistan will face Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh will play in Dharamsala on Saturday.