Rain mars both matches on opening day
A persistent shower that began 10 minutes before the start of the first match resulted in two games being abandoned without a ball bowled in Mirpur
Mohammad Isam
04-Nov-2016
File photo: Steady rain during much of the afternoon meant not even a toss was possible in Mirpur • AFP
Both matches on the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17 were abandoned without a ball being bowled in Dhaka. The only match-related action was the toss at the first match, where Rajshahi Kings opted to bowl first against Comilla Victorians. Twenty minutes after the toss took place, however, the ground was covered and the match ultimately called off at 4.50pm.
The second match, between Khulna Titans and Rangpur Riders, was abandoned at 9.25pm local time after the ground was inundated.
Unseasonal showers, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, had affected Dhaka and different parts of the country over the past 24 hours. The weather was clear for three hours on Friday morning but the rain returned 10 minutes before the first match and did not relent.
Popular local singer Ayub Bacchu held his concert under umbrellas between the two scheduled matches but there was no more fun for the crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Rain is also forecast for Saturday, with two matches scheduled in Dhaka.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84