Weather threatens Australia match

Friday's report

Brisbane's wild weather remains the major talking point ahead of Australia's Cricket World Cup clash against Bangladesh on Saturday.

With Cyclone Marcia creating havoc along the Queensland coast, there is a strong chance Saturday's match at the Gabba will be severely affected by the elements.

While conditions in Brisbane aren't expected to be as serious as those in other parts of Queensland - the category 5 cyclone is expected to reduce to a category 1 by the time it reaches the capital - heavy rain and fierce winds have already hit the city and are expected to continue for the rest of the day.

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A photo taken from the Bupa National Cricket Centre, where Australia trained indoors on Friday

The International Cricket Council World Cup organisers are working closely with authorities in Queensland ahead of the match.

"Our thoughts are with the people affected," the ICC said, in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

"However as there is no reserve day for pool matches, we will continue to prepare in the hope that the match can go ahead. The ICC match officials will make a decision on the match tomorrow (Saturday) based on conditions at the time.

"The match can still go ahead with a delayed start if necessary. A match can be successfully completed if each side has minimum of 20 overs which means that it is still possible to achieve a result with a start after the scheduled innings break.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and advise of any changes."

Ticket refunds may apply if the match is abandoned without a result and there are fewer than 25 overs bowled in total.

(Further details on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 refund policy can be found at www.cricketworldcup.com)

Each team will be awarded a point should the match be declared a no result.

Meanwhile, Brisbane residents were told this morning to start sandbagging in preparation for the deluge, with 90,000 sandbags handed out by the Brisbane City Council in anticipation of minor flooding.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk urged residents in low-lying suburbs to take precautions, saying the main risk was creek flooding.

"Particularly people in tidal areas, low-lying areas, they are the ones who need to get ready," Mr Quirk said.

Winds of up to 90km/h are expected and residents have been urged to clear their yards of objects that could become projectiles.

Brisbane Airport remains open but major airlines Qantas and Jetstar have warned that flights could be cancelled.

Several homes in Brisbane have already lost power.

The weather is so dangerous that Football Federation Australia today postponed Friday night’s A-League clash between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on the advice of the Queensland government, local police and emergency services.

"Residents in south east Queensland are being advised by Queensland police and emergency services to stay indoors so it is inappropriate for us to play a football match tonight in these circumstances," a statement read.

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A photo taken from outside the Bupa National Cricket Centre, where Australia trained indoors on Friday

The Australia-Bangladesh match scheduled to get underway at 2.30 AEDT on Saturday, it's too early to tell how great an effect the weather will have on the game.

There are more heavy falls forecast for Saturday, with the chance of a thunderstorm and with winds up to 40km/h.

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A photo taken from the Bupa National Cricket Centre, where Australia trained indoors on Friday

Australia’s World Cup Fixtures

February 14: beat England by 111 runs at the MCG

February 21: v Bangladesh, 1:30pm at the Gabba

February 28: v New Zealand, 2:00pm at Eden Park (NZ)

March 4: v Afghanistan, 2:30pm at the WACA

March 8: v Sri Lanka, 2:30pm at the SCG

March 13: v Scotland, 2:30pm at Blundstone Arena

View the full fixture list here