Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla responded to the many criticisms regarding the Green Park Stadium being selected to host Test matches after two days of the ongoing game between India and Bangladesh were washed out due to inclement weather.
Shukla believes that the venue in Kanpur cannot be denied the chance to host five-day games and the ground is set to see upgrades in its infrastructure as well.
The stadium has an outdated drainage system and three super soppers were used to dry the ground after rain.
Despite this, on the third day when there was no rain present, the lack of proper drainage facilities resulted in the outfield being too wet to play, resulting in play being called off as well on Sunday.
“Well, criticism is one thing which we are used to being in the administration of BCCI in cricket. But everything is being criticized. When we were not giving matches to Kanpur then also I was being criticised. Now we are giving the match and I am being criticized… why it has been given to Kanpur,” Shukla said as quoted by PTI.
Shukla pointed out that the Green Park Stadium remains a historic venue with regards to Indian cricket and considering its 80-year history, Test matches should be conducted here. As for the weather, he also cited that the lack of games being abandoned in Kanpur and the unprecedented weather conditions playing a major role.
“This ground is around 80 years old. It is our heritage ground. If you remember it used to be a permanent Test centre. So the whole idea was to have Test matches here,” he commented.
“This is the first time in 80 years that it has rained so much that we were not able to host the match for two days. But the history suggests that no match has been abandoned here. There are many venues in the world where because of rain, matches were abandoned,” he added.
In addition, Shukla also suggested that plans are in place to see the stadium upgraded with modern facilities to ensure that such circumstances can be dealt with more efficiently.
“I don’t think there should be a hue and cry because when this ground was being built, the stadium was being built, then those technologies were not available. Now technologies are available,” Shukla said.
“Like in our Lucknow stadium, we have got that technology. And in Varanasi, we are building another stadium. There we have high-tech, modern technology to take away the water. Here also we are planning,” he added.
Responding to a query regarding a 2019 statement made by the former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli who claimed that Test cricket should be only played in five major venues, following the likes of Australia and England, Shukla deems the stadium in Kanpur to be one of those venues. He also pointed out that the rotation policy is something the BCCI has to go by.
“Kanpur was also one of them. So, it’s a permanent Test centre. Then we have to keep other aspects also in mind. Second is our rotation policy. So, we have to go by the rotation policy,” he commented.
“And three, India has now got a lot many venues. We have got maximum number of venues which Australia and other countries don’t have. And we have to provide opportunity to all of them,” he added.
Shukla said smaller centres with infrastructure should host Tests to keep the fans interested in the game in these cities.
(with PTI Inputs)
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