The match was called off early on the third day, depriving Dunne for a second time of standing in a Test on his home ground.

The last time he had been appointed to officiate at Carisbrook was in the 1988-89 New Zealand v Pakistan fixture. That, too, was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Although the decision to call off this match might seem to have been made in indecent haste, the rain had meant that the ground would have been too wet for any play yesterday. And the forecast for tomorrow, the scheduled last day, was appalling.

A break in the clouds was expected today and the sides planned to play a limited-overs day-night match.

The fourth day of the third and final Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Faisalabad was called off yesterday due to fog, as were the first three days. After a win and a draw, Zimbabwe have now effectively won the series, their first overseas triumph.