Barabati ODI: Chances bleak, OCA promises to refund money

With no sign of rain abating, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today said there was only a remote chance of hosting the match and they would refund the money in case the fifth ODI between India and Australia was called off tomorrow.
OCA secretary Asirbad Behera in a statement said that the field was waterlogged and a final decision would be taken after the umpires inspect the ground tomorrow afternoon.
"We deeply regret to mention that the sunny weather which we expected today has failed to come true. The ground is completely waterlogged and the chances of drying up are extremely remote. The pitch however is safe but the outfield may cause harm to fielders," Behera said.

"In this scenario, if the match is called off we intend to refund the money to the ticket holders from November 8-15 between 10am to 5pm at the three ticket counters of the Barabati Stadium," he added.
Those who purchased online would get the refunds directly remitted to their respective accounts, Behera said.
The unrelenting showers, because of a deep depression in the Telengana region, had also dampened OCA's plan of drying up the field using choppers.
"The operators of helicopters visited the ground and expressed that they could only dry the pitch but would be unable to remove the mud which has accumulated throughout the playing arena," Behera said.

The scheduled start is 1.30 pm, while the gates would be open at 8.30 am tomorrow.