December 07, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: Sri Lanka’s team participating in the Blind Cricket World Cup was laid down by food poisoning on Wednesday and yet drew its match against West Indies scheduled for the day - thanks to bad weather.

Doctors who attended to eight members of the Sri Lankan team brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) told Dawn that they suffered from dehydration, diarrhoea and acute abdominal pain after eating dishes made extra spicy at their request with black pepper.

Their Pakistani hosts said other teams had the same food but suffered no such consequences.

After spending a restless night the condition of Sri Lankans worsened in the morning. They were taken to hospital a few hours before the match was to start at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

While doctors treated them with glucose drips and stabilised their condition, organisers of the World Cup tournament abandoned the match citing the rainy conditions at the ground and declared it a draw.

Sri Lankan players R-Benzict, Ksamrara, Csuriara, Rwasrita, Wjayewarzave, Ndharamasire, Perera and Fathalatchmudal were kept under observation in the Pims emergency ward for two hours and then released after they got better.

Doctors declared them fit to play their remaining games but advised them to continue medication for five days to completely cure their acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning.