The home side were leading 3-0 with first half goals from Moroccan midfielder Khoubbache Mohamad and striker Maksudul Islam Bulbul and Mahmudul Hasan's second half strike as the last 15 minutes of the game was played in semi darkness at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, leading referee Abdul Hannan to stop the game after repeated requests from the Abahani booters.

The referee, however, had ignored earlier pleas of the visitors, who conceded the third goal under bad light due to lack of power supply for technical fault at the Bangabandhu Stadium sub-station.

After waiting regulation 40 minutes in vain, the match officials called off the day.

A fresh match will be held today at 4pm according to the bylaws although the league committee, who sat last night, could have had decided for a restart for the last ten minutes and relive the two teams from playing twice in as many days in the scorching summer heat. Representatives of both teams were present at the meeting, presided over by league committee chairman Abdur Rahim.

The bylaws say: "If a match is abandoned before the end of normal time or during any extra time because of unfit pitch, bad weather or force majeure, a 90 (ninety) minute replay must in principle be played the following day; if not otherwise decided by the B. League Committee."

The world over, matches abandoned due to inclement weather or similar technical problems usually resume from where play had stopped.

Russel, who started their seventh match on 12 points, will overtake Abahani (14 points from six games) in the table if they can win the game. Khulna Abahani, who pulled off a stunning 4-2 victory against Brothers Union in their last visit to Dhaka, are on six points from five outings.

The league committee has also decided to hasten kick-off time of all matches in Dhaka to 4pm from 4.45pm to avoid such incidents. Today's Brothers-Muktijoddha clash of the titans has been rescheduled for tomorrow.