Fran the Hurricane, we refer to here.

The act of god, after creating havoc through part of the United States late last week, playfully imparted a parting kick to Canada on its way back to wherever hurricanes go to when they are done with their hell-raising, and the upshot has been continuous rain for 48 hours now, and counting.

The result? All preparations at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club have been put on indefinite hold. Despite excellent drainage facilities, the ground remained covered in ankle deep water when last heard from.

The most visible casualty is the television coverage - ESPN requires as many as six special stands, at selected vantage points, to mount its cameras on. And the organisers have reservations about erecting same, on the grounds that any such effort with the ground as damp as it is will not prove strong enough to bear the load.

For pretty much the same reason, plans for the installation of a giant scoreboard, makeshift stands to increase seating capacity, and the provision of three firm wickets so that all games are not played on the same pitch, are all in abeyance. And time, in case it needs mentioning, is rapidly running out.

So what is the prognoscis? The latest weather reports from the area indicate that more rain is indicated over the next few days. And it is not just the organisers of the Sahara Cup that are in trouble, mind - civic authorities in Toronto have been struggling to cope with uprooted electricity poles, fallen trees, blocked roads, property damage estimated in the high millions, and as many as 12 deaths.

What is most crucial to the competition is the wicket. Available records at the club show that when cricket matches have been held here in the past, scores in excess of 700 over the course of a day's play are pretty much a norm. This phenomenal run-rate owes to the fact that games are generally played on matting wickets, also that the outfield is lightning fast and the boundaries probably the nearest in international cricket today.

However, the organisers were keen to put in place regular wickets for the crucial confrontation between the two bitterest rivals in international cricket - that, again, has now been put on hold. And with every passing hour and every additional drop of rain, the possibility of this being done on time looks increasingly bleak.

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