Rain forces match out of Ahmedabad

The group A match between Lions and Mumbai Indians on Friday, September 27, has been shifted to Jaipur because of torrential rain in Ahmedabad, the original venue. Both Champions League matches scheduled on September 23 in Ahmedabad were washed out without a ball being bowled because downpours shortly after the toss of the first game left the field flooded.

A CLT20 source said the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, resembled a "swimming pool" because of incessant rain over the last week. Once it was clear that the ground would not be fit for the match on September 27, the organisers decided to move the game out of Ahmedabad.

"There is no chance of Motera hosting the match even if it doesn't rain from now," Rajesh Patel, the Gujarat Cricket Association secretary, told ESPNcricinfo. "The rains have made the ground unfit, at least for Friday's game."

With the forecast for Ahmedabad looking gloomy until Sunday, Monday's games at Motera could also be shifted. "The weather in Ahmedabad will be monitored on a continuous basis, and a decision on the double-header on September 30 will be taken a few days later," the tournament organisers said.

Mumbai Indians, who have been stranded in Ahmedabad since Sunday, are set to leave for Jaipur this evening. The shift in venue keeps their chances of making the semi-final alive, because they've already had a game washed out after losing their tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals.