Bangladesh-Sri Lanka washout sets World Cup record

Ground staff work on the field at the County Ground in Bristol  

Sri Lanka’s World Cup match against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain in Bristol yesterday.
The Umpires’ decision left tournament organisers with the unwanted record for the most number of abandoned games at a World Cup, surpassing the two each at the 1992 Tournament in Australia and New Zealand and the 2003 edition in southern Africa. It was the second successive World Cup match at Bristol that had fallen victim to bad weather. 
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s group game against Pakistan at Southwest County at Gloucestershire’s Headquarters on Friday was another no-result washout that did not witness a single delivery.
Rain has also been forecast for today’s match between Australia and Pakistan in Taunton.
No reserve days have been scheduled for the 10-team round-robin stage, despite the well-known risks of rain during a British summer.
Asked whether there should be reserve days in the group phase, Bangladesh Coach Steve Rhodes, a former England wicket-keeper, said: “Yes, I would (have them).”
“I know logistically it would have caused problems. But we can put a man on the moon, so if we have to travel a day later, so be it.” 
Only one of three World Cup matches scheduled to take place in Bristol produced any play with defending champions Australia launching their title defence with a seven-wicket victory over 
outsiders Afghanistan.
Heavy overnight and early morning rain delayed the scheduled 10.30 a.m. local time start of yesterday’s match.
And with rain continuing to fall, the Umpires - after several inspections - bowed to the inevitable by calling the game off at 1.57 p.m. 
Both sides received a point for the washout.
It was the second World Cup no-result in as many days after rain meant only 7.3 overs were possible in the match between South Africa and the West Indies in Southampton on Monday.
AFP

SL players console Malinga

By BIPIN DANI 
If Sri Lanka’s ICC Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh had not been washed out in Bristol yesterday, the players would have certainly worn a black arm band as a mark of respect for the loss of Lasith Malinga’s mother-in-law. 
“It is indeed sad news and the players would have worn the black arm band,” the Sri Lanka Team Manager, Ashantha de Mel, said yesterday. 
“Malinga’s mother-in-law (Kanthi Perera) was sick for some time. Malinga’s wife Tanya is in Sri Lanka,” the Manager confirmed. 
“Malinga received the sad news directly from his home. We came to know about it later and all our teammates did console Malinga”, the Manager added. 
Malinga is set to return home and is hoping to join the Sri Lanka Squad directly in London for their next game.