da betsson： The crucial first round match between Kenya and South Africa wasabandoned at 2.25pm without a ball being bowled
14-Jan-2000The crucial first round match between Kenya and South Africa wasabandoned at 2.25pm without a ball being bowled. Persistent rainduring the morning left large patches of standing water on theoutfield. The covers were removed to reveal a small wet patch on thewicket.The match referee, Mr Roger Wijesooriya, was only prepared for thematch to commence if both sides agreed to play. The South Africans,who are now in danger of not reaching the super league stages, werekeen to play but the Kenyan management was insistent that conditionswere dangerous.With the teams unable to agree, the decision was referred to theumpires, E.K.G Wijewardana and T.H. Wijewardana. They decided thepitch was unsuitable for play and officially abandoned the match.After the decision CRICINFO spoke exclusively to the South African andKenyan managers. The South African manager, Keke Dali, was visiblyangry and aggrieved by the decision when he said, they wanted myopinion as manager as to whether we could play. I spoke to the Captainand we agreed that the pitch was not dangerous we could play.The Kenyans totally decided not to play. The umpires then decided thatno play was possible. I asked them for the reason and they said thatKenya did not want to play. It would have been better if I had beentold that pitch was dangerous. The wet patch on the wicket would notaffected play.He further stated If Kenya refuse to play they are not promoting theinterest of cricket here, because we are not only here to play cricketbut are here to promote the interests of the game.Edward Odumde defended his decision, stating the conditions werenot favorable after two hours of heavy rain throughout the morningsession up to about 2pm.. The match referee offered me the option ofplaying the game but I of course objected because the conditions weredangerous for my players.Whilst the South Africans were understandably upset, especially afterbeing robbed of an opportunity to play in their first match, butshould be able to understand the decision of the Kenyans. The groundwas extremely wet and needed at least one hour of drying time. Thiswould leave insufficient time for the completion of a 25 over match.The South Africans now face Pakistan in a crucial encounter atKurunegala on Saturday. They have to win if they are to have a chanceof reaching the Super League. Kenya and Nepal now have a chance ofqualifying. If South Africa lose then the winner of the Nepal/Kenyagame on the same day will proceed to the Super League.