December 06, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 5: As expected, the opening encounter of the five-match One-day International series between Pakistan and the West Indies was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the heavy downpour at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

The decision was reached as early as 8.30am when the ICC match referee Alan Hurst, the former Australian Test bowler, in consent with field umpires Aleem Dar of Pakistan and Australia’s Daryl Harper, decided to call off the game after incessant rain left the ground inundated.

Although the Pindi pitch, which had remained under tarpaulins since Saturday evening, was dry when it was inspected on Tuesday the outfield resembled a huge puddle and made the match officials’ decision a mere formality. The teams didn’t bother to come to the ground either because they were already informed of the decision.

The verdict effectively meant Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was now eligible for selection for the second One-day International, which is scheduled to be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Thursday.

The Pakistan captain was still one short of completing the four-match ODI ban, which was slapped on Inzamam for his part in the Oval Test fiasco But according to technicalities of the ICC rules the result of Rawalpindi ODI stands counted despite the toss not taking place at all. Meanwhile, the second game is also threatened by inclement weather since it rained approximately 4mm in Faisalabad on Monday and more of the same was predicted for Tuesday. However, sunny spells have been forecast for the next two days - Wednesday and Thursday.

The locals here were deeply disappointed when the decision was announced because many were hoping to get a last glimpse of West Indies captain Brian Lara in action. But the seasonal rains washed away their hopes.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are overjoyed with the news of frontline bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif being exonerated from the doping charges that had initially banned them from all forms of the game for two and one years, respectively.

The availability of both these fast bowlers for the remaining matches of the current series is going to put the national selectors in a dilemma. The selectors will have to decide whether to rush them back or ask the pair to play in the domestic competition after nearly three months of inaction.

The second course of action for the selectors appears to be more sensible because it would give opportunities to those already named in the first ODI squad to justify their selection. Both teams were scheduled to leave for Faisalabad by road on Wednesday morning.