Final match washed out

As expected, inclement weather -- heavy rain and stormy wind as the effect of Cyclone Akash that did not hit the coastal belt of Bangladesh with its full fury -- washed out the third and final one-day international between Bangladesh and India at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium on Tuesday.

The match only had an academic interest as India had secured the series 2-0 after winning the first matches, by five wickets and 46 runs respectively, in Dhaka.

It was, however, significant as the last one-day match for coach Dav Whatmore with the Tigers and also the final home appearance of skipper Habibul Bashar if not the last in career.

At one o’clock in the afternoon, umpires Enamul Haque and Asoka de Silva called off the match after their third inspection of the day. The condition of the outfield, ravaged by continuous rain over the last 36 hours, could not be improved up to playing standard.

Both captains, Bashar and Rahul Dravid, looked at the conditions and were consulted before the two officials made their decision, fifteen minutes into their inspection.

Dravid and Bashar both expressed their disappointment at not being able to play the match in what would have been a capacity crowd, who had the last hope of at least a 20-over match from 2.20pm, the final cut-off time.
But the crowd had some consolation as the tickets would allow them to get entry for the first day of the first Test to be played at the same venue from May 18.

India’s dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Dhoni was adjudged the man-of-the-series for his stellar knock in the first game and handy role behind the stumps.

The longhaired 25-year-old from Ranchi, who made 91 not out in the first match, said: "I am happy to have done well here, a place where I made my debut but was run out after facing just one ball. So it is good to have done well here as I wanted to prove something here."

His adjustment from a lower-order batsman to number three in the line-up was something remarkable in the hot and humid conditions, having kept wickets for more than three hours.

”Playing for the country is enough motivation for me. I don’t think of anything else other than that. I am here to win for my country and that is enough for me to go out in the middle,” said Dhoni.

“The team comes first obviously so I don’t mind where I am asked to bat, whether it’s down the order or at number three.”

“You have to adjust yourself to the demand of the situation, whatever that is. If I am successful doing it, then you know what the situation is.
Dhoni was severly criticised back home for his failure in the World Cup but he admitted that he has moved on.

“That’s something that was beyond my control and never really thought of it.”

His captain Rahul Dravid, in a jovial mood at the post-match briefing, mentioned Dhoni’s partnership with Dinesh Karthick as one of the positives from this series. He also mentioned the performance of the fast bowlers and Gautam Gambhir’s 101 in the second match as good memories.

He however was disappointed at the third game being called for soggy outfield.

“It is quite frustrating that we have to go back without having played a match. But I think being familiar with the ground is what we can take back today (Tuesday),” said Dravid.

He was aware that Bangladesh have not played a Test for thirteen months and said that their lack of experience could well be the difference.