Heavy rain threatens to affect Australia's warm-up game

Chandigarh:

After forcing the Australian players to practice indoors, heavy rains here could threaten the side's warm-up match against Board President's XI starting Saturday.

Chandigarh has recorded one of its wettest monsoon ever with the city recording 122.8 mm of rains in the last 24 hours. Widespread showers occurred in some parts of Chandigarh and Mahalia today evening and the Met Department has predicted more rains over the next two days.

With heavy downpour leaving the outfield wet, groundsman at the Sector 16 stadium were forced to work overtime.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed. Even if we get a bright sunshine a day before the practise game, we can have a good match," PAC curator Dalt Sing said.

"The drainage system at the Sector 16 stadium is very good and that should help," he said.

Earlier the visitors, led by skipper Ricky Pointing, did some running and stretching exercises before hitting the gymnasium.