CUTTACK. Nov 10: Indian team manager Ajit Wadekar launched a verbal broadside after a rain-soaked pitch caused another washout in the third and final Test against New Zealand on Friday. reports Reuter.

"It's a big scandal and quite disgusting. This should , not happen in a Test match." said Wadekar.

Play was called off without a ball being bowled on the third day. following the abandonment of Thursday's proceedings.

Cyclonic rain has meant Just 173 minutes of the scheduled 18 hours of play has been possible on the first three days, with India scoring 120 for three on the opening day.

The sun shone on Friday but the pitch was found to be unfit, with wet patches on the surface having apparently been caused by water seeping through the plastic covers.

"The outfield has been made fit to play,” said umpire V K Ramaswamy. "But the wicket has been badly affected by water seepage and the patches could not have dried during the course of the day."

The biggest of the patches, one among six, was six feet long and four feet wide.

Bibhuti Das, secretary of Orissa Cricket Association (QCAJ which is hosting the Test, said pitch covering was supplied by the Board of Con trol for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"It (the cover) could have been blown off. a groundsman said. "The covers seemed secure and of good quality.