Dew may force a noon start to India-Pakistan Kotla ODI

The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has asked the Indian cricket board to consider an early start to the third and last One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan at the Ferozeshah Kotla on January 6. The decision was taken in view of the heavy winter dew so as to negate an unfair advantage to the side winning the toss.


Day-night ODI matches normally start at 2.30pm, but the Pakistan game may well have a noon start.

“Delhi in January has heavy dew in the evenings and we have requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to start the match at noon,” Chetan Chauhan, DDCA vice president, told IANS on Saturday.

"We have also requested the board if we can start the England practice game on January 8 at noon," the former India Test opener said.

Chauhan said the pitches for both the matches will be seamer-friendly.

“The wickets will have grass. It won’t be green grass, but dry so that the ball carries well to the keeper and seams well,” said Chauhan.

Pakistan play three ODIs and two Twenty20s, starting December 25, when the visiting England team goes home for Christmas after completing their Test series and before kicking off their ODI series.

England, who start their Test tour from November 15, will return after the Christmas break for the ODI series starting January 11. They will be playing two practice games here against local sides.