India's T20 World Cup Match Against Canada Abandoned Due to Waterlogged Outfield

India's final Group 'A' match against Canada in the ongoing T20 World Cup was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a waterlogged outfield. The match was scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM local time at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, but umpires Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula called off proceedings an hour later after a thorough inspection.

Heavy rainfall the previous night had left the outfield saturated, making it unsafe for play. The decision was made after the umpires consulted with both teams and the match officials.

India, who had already secured a place in the Super 8 stage with two wins from their first three matches, finished top of the group with seven points. They will now face Afghanistan in their first Super 8 fixture in Barbados on June 20.

Canada, who had lost their first two matches, were left disappointed as they missed out on the chance to face the tournament favorites. Head coach Pubudu Dassanayake expressed his team's frustration but acknowledged the uncontrollable nature of the weather.

"As an associate nation, we would have loved to play against the Indian team. But nature cannot be stopped. There was heavy rain in the last two days, so it was tough to get the ground ready," Dassanayake said.

India's focus will now shift to adapting to the different conditions in the West Indies. The pitches in the Caribbean are expected to be less conducive to fast bowling than those in New York, where India played their first three matches.

Team combinations, batting approach, and par scores are some of the aspects that skipper Rohit Sharma and his team management will need to reassess. India batting coach Vikram Rathour expressed disappointment at not getting a game but emphasized the importance of player safety.

"It is disappointing for fans who have turned up to the stadium, and for us too. We were looking forward to playing the game. It was important for us to get match practice. But the rain is something we cannot control," Rathour said.

Rathour also highlighted the concerns regarding injuries on a wet outfield. "The concern about sustaining an injury is always there when you play in less than ideal conditions. We are already in the Super 8, and you do not want any injuries ahead of important matches," Rathour added.

Tags: #T20WorldCup, #India, #Canada, #AbandonedMatch, #WaterloggedOutfield