India-Sri Lanka ODI abandoned due to unplayable pitch

The fifth and final one-day international between India and Sri Lanka has been abandoned after the pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla was deemed dangerous for play. Sri Lanka were struggling at 83 for five in 23.3 overs when the play was stopped.

The fifth and final one-day international between India and Sri Lanka has been abandoned after the pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla was deemed dangerous for play in Delhi on Sunday.

HT Image

Right from the start, occasional deliveries alarmingly reared up and one such hit Tillakaratne Dilshan on his
forearm, leaving him in pain and needing on-field treatment.

But play continued till the 24th over when a Sudeep Tyagi delivery kicked off the pitch and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struggled to collect it.

Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Kandamby first had a word with Dhoni before he approached the umpires. Umpires Marais Erasmus and Shavir Tarapore soon conferred and Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was seen gesturing to his teammates from the dressing room.

Subsequently, Match Referee Alan Hurst also walked in and they were joined by Kotla curator Vijay Bahadur Mishra and BCCI Pitch and Grounds Committee chairman Daljit Singh.

Sangakkara also joined them, along with India coach Gary Kirsten and his Sri Lanka counterpart Trevor Bayliss also
walked out.

Delhi and District Cricket Association officials, including vice president Chetan Chauhan, offered another pitch
to Hurst but a final decision was yet to be taken.