Kanpur: First day – 35 overs possible.
Second day – No play.
Third day – No play.
That’s been the story so far in the second and final Test match between India and Bangladesh at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.
On Sunday, though it was cloudy, it hadn’t rained since early morning. The sun broke through the clouds in the afternoon. Yet, the umpires had to call off play around scheduled tea time after making three inspections of the ground.
The match officials found the outfield to be too wet for players’ safety. There were damp patches near the bowlers’ run-up area as well as in some other parts of the ground.
The thousand-odd spectators at the stadium booed the umpires, who can hardly be faulted for the decision they made.
It was the stadium’s poor drainage system which came under scrutiny, in an era when most grounds around the world have advanced facility to dry up the entire turf quickly, once rain has relented.
Netizens weren’t amused at all, as they called out the richest cricket board BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and labelled Green Park as the “worst venue” due to “poor facilities” at the ground.
“Despite being the richest cricket board in the world, BCCI doesn’t leave any opportunity to defame our country’s name. BCCI should be ashamed for organising an international match in a stadium where the drainage system is so bad. Shame on you BCCI,” read the scathing comment of one user.
“So called richest board 🤢🤣 You guys aren’t reaching WTC (World Test Championship) now 😂 Worst venues to play cricket,” posted one user, referring to India’s chances of making the WTC final,” wrote another user.
“This Is So Embarrassing 🙂,” said one netizen.
”BCCI is an 🤡 Organisation.. What you are doing all that money 🤬,” quipped another user.
Though the forecast for the last two days is better, promising some cricketing action, a decisive result is highly unlikely.
India are on top of the WTC table, but they have to win at least 4 more Tests out of the remaining eight – 3 at home versus New Zealand and 5 in Australia – to ensure a berth in next June’s final of the 2023-25 cycle.
Bangladesh were considered to be their easiest opponents, and following the 280-run win at Chennai last week, India were expected to triumph in Kanpur too.
