Green Park stadium and Rajiv Shukla. (Photo Source: BCCI and Jio Cinema)
The vice-president of BCCI and member of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), Rajiv Shukla on Monday mentioned that they are in talks with the government to upgrade the condition of Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium where the second Test between India and Bangladesh is being played.
The decision came after the cancellation of Day 2 and Day 3 of the second Test due to rain. Although there were a few drizzles on Saturday, Sunday remained rain-free at the venue. However, due to the wet outfield, not a single ball was bowled.
“Sometimes it happens, though we all pray to Lord Indra, that it should not rain, but, you know, it happens. And it happens throughout the world. So, why unnecessarily Kanpur and Green Park are being blamed for something which is in nature’s hand?” Shukla, said on the sidelines of the second Test.
“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 history suggests that no match has been abandoned here. There are lot many venues in the world where because of the rains, matches have been abandoned. Because when this ground was being built, stadium was being built, then those technologies were not available.
“Now technologies are available. 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.
Shukla further added, “Today I had a discussion with administration on how we can develop this system by which the rainy water can immediately be soaked. Immediately after coming here (Green Park), I had a discussion with the authorities and they are also on the same page and I think we will be able to improve the conditions here shortly. We will get some time to improve the conditions of the ground and that work will be picked up. The moment I came here, I had a long discussion with government officials because this stadium belongs to government. We are in agreement with them. So, now for that, ground has to be dug up, new technology has to be applied and everything has to be done.”
In recent years, the UPCA has opted to hold its major matches at the modern Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, hosting Test cricket in Kanpur for just the second time in eight years. He dismissed criticism aimed at the venue for being unable to facilitate play due to brief drizzles and defended the concept of bringing Test cricket to various regions across the country, contrary to suggestions from some current and former cricketers to limit it to a few select locations.
“We have to go by the rotation policy,” he said. “Also, India has got now a lot many venues, which Australia and other countries don’t have. And we have to provide opportunities for all of them.
“Sometimes what happens is that those cities where people get to see a lot many matches…IPL is also there, and then WPL is also there, then World Cup is also there, bilateral matches are also there. So, the number of spectators goes down in those cities, because people are used to watching, you know, these T20 and one-day cricket and all that. So, that’s why this idea was floated that in B-grade cities, where we have got infrastructure, we should organise Test matches so that more and more people are attracted to it.
“Look here (in Kanpur), it’s almost packed. And even the last two days when there were rains, a lot of people turned up to watch the match. That means there is appetite. People are eager to watch cricket.”