Rain washes out Yuvraj Singh's return to international cricket

Yuvraj Singh's keenly-awaited return after battling cancer ended with a damp squib as the first Twenty20 game against New Zealand was washed out today. The game was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Yuvraj Singh's keenly-awaited return after battling cancer ended with a damp squib as the first Twenty20 game against New Zealand was washed out on Saturday.

The game was abandoned without a ball being bowled as heavy rain lashing the southern coastal town of Visakhapatnam since late afternoon showed no signs of relenting.

The two-match series -- the second game takes place in Chennai on Tuesday -- is a build-up for the World Twenty20 which opens in Sri Lanka on September 18.

Yuvraj, 30, underwent chemotherapy in the United States in March and April to treat a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs which was diagnosed late last year.

The left-hander, who was man of the tournament in India's World Cup triumph last year, was recalled to the Twenty20 side despite not having played competitive cricket since November.

R-Ashwin-eats-food-before-first-T20-cricket-match-between-India-vs-New-Zealand-at-Dr-YSR-Reddy-ACA-VDCA-Cricket-Stadium-in-Visakhapatnam-The-match-was-called-off-due-to-heavy-rains-and-thunderstorms-HT-photo-Ashok-Nath-Dey

The first T20 match between India and New Zealand was called off due to heavy rains and thunderstorms. HT photo/Ashok Nath Dey