RAWALPINDI, Dec 3: Intermittent showers threatened to wash out the opening fixture of the five-match One-day International series between Pakistan and the West Indies at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The rainy weather which prevailed almost throughout Sunday forced Brian Lara’s men to call off a scheduled practice session in the afternoon. In fact, the tourists chose to remain indoors in the comfort of their hotel rooms on a day when sun struggled to make an appearance.

The Pakistan cricketers, however, ventured out to the stadium in hope of getting some good practice but settled for fitness/recreational activities like playing football, rugby and doing light physical training.

The ground authorities didn’t bother to remove the tarpaulins from the pitch all day as the weather turned for the worst with temperatures falling to freezing levels.

According to the locals here, it rained heavily for about 90 minutes half an hour past midnight on Saturday. At the time of filing this report rain was still continuing and more of the same is predicted for the next 48 hours.

The organizers have all but ruled out the game ever starting on Tuesday in the prevailing circumstances. And if the weather bulletin is to be trusted, the series opener is likely to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.

In case of no play at Pindi, Inzamam-ul-Haq will have to sit out the next game in Faisalabad on Thursday as he is bound by the ICC’s four-match ban which was awarded to him for bringing the game into disrepute at The Oval last August.

Now it seems the Pakistan captain must wait until the third match in Lahore next Sunday to resume his One-day International career.

Reuters adds: West Indies all rounder Dwayne Bravo has left the tour of Pakisan before the one-day series for personal reasons, the team management said on Sunday.

“Bravo sought and received the permission of the selectors to return home to be with persons close to him who are unwell,” media manager Imran Khan told reporters.

Bravo's place in the five-match series has been taken by paceman Corey Collymore, who was drafted in from the Test side.

“Bravo travelled back to the Caribbean on Friday evening and will miss the entire five match series. We ask that Bravo's privacy is respected at this time,” Khan added.

The 23-year-old Bravo, who has played 56 one-dayers, did not have an outstanding Test series but managed to contribute with bat and ball.

Experienced batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan will also miss the series after he fractured his right foot in the final test on Friday.