The star-studded charity cricket match to raise funds for bushfire relief has been called off after rain was forecast for Sydney on Saturday.
The Bushfire Cricket Bash was set to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground as a curtain-raiser to the Big Bash League final, but the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a 95 per cent chance of rain and the chance of a thunderstorm.
Cricket Australia confirmed on its website on Wednesday night the match was cancelled to give the BBL final the best chance to go ahead.
Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were to captain teams made up of some past, present and future stars — including Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Alex Blackwell and Phoebe Litchfield.
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar was going to coach the Ponting XI, with West Indies great Courtney Walsh at the helm of the Warne XI.
But with 30 to 50 millimetres of rain set to fall in the city on Saturday, the charity match has been cancelled to give the BBL final the best chance of being played.
The cancellation came a day after former Test opener Matthew Hayden joined the game, and a few hours after Ponting tweeted an image of himself playing golf with Lara.
The final can be shortened to five overs a side, but if the match is completely washed out then the Sydney Sixers will be crowned the champions after earning hosting rights by finishing second on the ladder and beating the Melbourne Stars to reach the grand final.
The Stars face the Sydney Thunder on Thursday night for a place in the final.
Squad for the Bushfire Cricket Bash: Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Brian Lara, Dan Christian, Nick Riewoldt, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Holly Ferling, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh
