Kanpur Stadium Drainage Woes: Who's to Blame for Waterlogged Pitch?

The second Test match between India and Bangladesh at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium faced a setback on the third day as play was called off due to a ‘wet outfield.’ Despite clear skies and no rain, frustrations grew when both teams were forced to stay at their hotels while match officials conducted inspections of the pitch. Unfortunately, no play occurred, leading to three consecutive days lost to rain.

Shiv Kumar, the pitch curator for the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), stated that conditions were under control and they were prepared for the match. However, he admitted confusion over the match officials' concerns regarding the pitch. Prem Manohar Gupta, UPCA treasurer, conceded that Green Park Stadium lacked the upgrades seen in many other Test venues in India.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, with a long history in UP cricket, defended the stadium, saying, “What can we do? It is a 75-year-old stadium. We can’t control the weather.” He emphasized that even the best drainage systems cannot manage heavy rain, which can leave any pitch unplayable.

Fans who travelled from across the state to watch the match were frustrated. Many expressed disappointment in the stadium’s facilities, feeling let down by the UPCA. “It’s disheartening. We came to watch a match, but it’s been a waste of time,” said a fan from Fatehpur. Another local fan remarked, “Green Park shouldn’t host matches anymore. I’d rather travel to Lucknow or Varanasi.”

Match referee Jeff Crowe inspected the field multiple times, but specific areas remained damp, particularly near deep mid-wicket and the 30-yard circle. After morning and lunch sessions were lost, officials decided to push back the next pitch inspection to 2 PM, hoping sunlight would help dry the ground. However, this choice infuriated the ground staff. “They never informed us about the specific wet areas, which made it hard to address the concerns,” a ground official explained.

Green Park Stadium has faced issues before. Recently, a Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida was abandoned due to poor outfield conditions. With thousands of fans eager to witness international cricket, the delays and cancellations have raised questions about the stadium's readiness to host matches.

Sanjay Kapoor, the venue director, assured fans before the Test that everything was prepared for a five-day match. He stated, “We guarantee a five-day match here at Green Park Stadium. We’re prepared for rain.” However, many began to doubt the venue’s ability to host future international games.

According to the Times of India report, BCCI sources revealed Green Park might lose its international venue status, with the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow emerging as a superior alternative. Ekana Stadium has hosted several international matches and will soon welcome the Irani Cup game.

In addition to drainage issues, safety concerns about the stadium structure were noted just before the Test match. The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department determined that the upper block was unfit for spectators, so many Stand C tickets did not sell. The venue's security arrangements also faced scrutiny after a well-known Bangladesh fan reported being attacked during the match.

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