India, who will play the hosts in a Test match from May 18 at the same venue, had already won the ODI series 2-0 but it was significant for the Tigers as it was the last limited-overs match for coach Dav Whatmore and possibly the last one-day international for Habibul Bashar at home.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, umpires Enamul Haque and Asoka de Silva called the match off after their third inspection. The condition of the outfield, ravaged by continuous rain over the last 36 hours, could not be improved up to playing standard.

Both captains, Bashar and Rahul Dravid, looked at the conditions and were consulted before the two umpires made their decision, fifteen minutes into their inspection.

Bashar and Dravid both expressed their disappointment at not being able to play the match in what would have been a capacity crowd who had the last hope of a 20-overs-a-side match which could have started from 2.20pm, the final cut-off time.

But the crowd had some consolation as their ticket was returned and according to local organisers, this same ticket can be used for the first day of the first Test.

The first two matches of the series were played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka where India won a hard-fought first game by five wickets and then the second one, more convincingly, by 46 runs.

India's dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Dhoni was adjudged the man-of-the-series for his stellar knock in the first game and handy role as a glovesman in the series.