IND vs BAN, 2nd Test: Green Park’s poor drainage system in focus after third day’s play called off despite no rain

Despite the venue not seeing rain on the third day, wet outfield meant that it wasn’t safe for the players to come back onto the pitch and continue playing.

Scene on the third day of the India and Bangladesh Test match at Green Park stadium, in Kanpur on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA/The Hindu

It did not rain a drop since morning, and as the day progressed, the sun was out. But even then, the third day’s play of the second Test between India and Bangladesh was called off due to ‘wet outfield’.

While the teams stayed put in the hotel, there were at least three inspections during the day, all without the covers on the field. And, even though the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) curator Shiv Kumar claimed that things were under control, there were plenty of wet patches in the outfield.

“The match officials did not specify which areas they were not satisfied with,” the curator said, hoping that if it does not rain any further, there could be some action over the next couple of days.

So far, only 35 overs could be possible, in which Bangladesh scored 107 for 3, and after the abandonment of play without a ball bowled - second day in a row - questions are being raised about why the Green Park was allotted the game despite having a poor drainage system.

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However, Dr. Sanjay Kapoor, the venue director, blamed it on the rain. “There was 16mm rain over the last couple of days, which is unusual in Kanpur around this time. That led to dampness in a few areas, but our ground staff is working hard,” Kapoor told  Sportstar.

In the first session, the ground staff made an effort to dry things out and poured some sawdust on the wet surfaces before moving away from the field. According to the UPCA curator, 75 groundsmen were on duty, but even then, things did not fall into place. For the large number of spectators who turned up on Sunday, hoping to cheer for the Indian team, it was an endless wait. And, it also brought back memories of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida that had to be called off without even holding the toss due to rain and poor outfield.

“We have all the facilities in place, and now with the sun on the forecast for the next couple of days, we will ensure that we have a game tomorrow,” Kapoor said. Even though the ground staff brought in the tarpaulin sheets as soon as it rained on the first day, it took a bit of time for them to cover the entire ground. By the time the field could be covered, there were puddles in several areas.

Built in 1945, the Green Park has been hosting Test matches since 1952 and has hosted 23 red-ball fixtures. The stadium belongs to the Uttar Pradesh government’s Sports Directorate, which leased it out to the UPCA following a Memorandum of Understanding. According to the MoU, the directorate charges Rs 1.25 crore per year as rent. Even though the stadium underwent renovation a few years ago, the drainage system wasn’t improved.

Sources in the BCCI also indicated that with poor drainage and below-par facilities, the Green Park could miss out on hosting international fixtures going forward, and the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, which has a state-of-the-art infrastructure could be given the preference.

The Ekana Stadium has hosted several limited-overs international fixtures, including games during last year’s ODI World Cup. It is home to the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and has also hosted a Test match between Afghanistan and the West Indies in 2019. From October 1, it will also host the Irani Cup between Mumbai and Rest of India.