The abandonement of the fifth and final one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka due to unfit playing conditions at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Sunday was second such instance in the history of limited overs cricket.
Incidentally, both India and Sri Lanka were also the two teams involved in the first abandoned ODI due to pitch conditions on December 25, 1997 in Indore.
In that match, Sri Lanka, under Arjuna Ranatunga, had won the toss and batted first before the match was abandoned after three overs. Sri Lanka had made 17 for one till then.
Both Ranatunga and Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin felt that it was dangerous for the players to carry on with the game.
Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 31 on Sunday, is the only player to feature in both the games.
In the fifth and final ODI here, Sri Lanka were batting at 83 for five after 23.3 overs.
Earlier in the year, a Test match between the West Indies and England was called off due pitch and outfield conditions in February at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in St. Johns's, Antigua. The match was just 10-ball-old on the first day.
Second pitch fiasco for India, Sri Lanka
Advertisement