Port of Rain awaits India

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http://cricket.expressindia.com/news/port-of-rain-awaits-india/798358/ Port of Spain: It isn't just the playing field that has been leveled following the big name pull-outs from the Indian side, and lack of star players in the West Indies camp. After several hours of rain in Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday — the venue for the opening T20 clash between the two depleted sides on Saturday — the West Indies squad lost an entire day of practice, and both teams will avail the indoor nets together for their first collective session on Thursday. By the time the Indian contingent will land late on Wednesday evening at the Piacro International airport in Port of Spain, they will been informed that the hosts have done nothing but twiddle their thumbs, anticipating their elusive training day for the lone T20 — a match that kicks off a series of five ODIs and three Test matches. Ultimate spoilsport While the tickets were almost sold out by Wednesday afternoon — nearly 80 per cent according to the reports — rain might yet play the ultimate spoilsport. According to reports in the local publications, the downpour has not only disrupted a day at the nets, but also the last minute pitch preparations at the Queen's Park Oval — the traditional cricketing venue of T&T. Bryan Davis, an official with the T&TCB at the Oval, said that although the WICB had requested them to provide training facilities for the arriving West Indian team by Wednesday, the weather played its role ensuring that both the nets area and the main pitch remained under wraps. Pitch not prepared “We were supposed to work on the pitch today but with the rain falling all day we were unable to do any rolling," David told the Trinidad Guardian. The home staff now has their fingers crossed, hoping that the rain stays away for the centre wicket, and the side facilities, to be ready by the time the Indians get into their training jerseys. "The pitch remained covered. We are hoping to get two full days sunshine in order to have the pitch adequately prepared for the T20 clash, hopefully we will get that break this week.†If Port of Spain is blessed with ample sunlight for at least an entire day on Thursday, the practice pitches could well be up and running in time for a practice session on Friday, the eve of the T20 clash, but until then, both the West Indies and the visitors will have the make full use of the indoor facilities.