The first game of Australia's Shooting Stars women's cricket tour in Dubai has been abandoned in bizarre circumstances.
A sand storm engulfed the ICC Academy ground on Thursday, causing their 50-over match against an England academy side to be moved to Friday.
"Well this has never happened before... Delayed due to a sand storm... We love Dubai" tweeted Australian batter Elyse Villani, accompanied by a photo with some of her teammates wearing face masks.
The Shooting Stars are a team of Australia's emerging female cricketers and in a statement last month, chair of selectors Julie Savage said the two-week tour was partly designed to "expose our players to differing playing conditions around the world".
Four 50-over matches and two Twenty20 games are scheduled against the ECB Academy.
