India vs Bangladesh: Kanpur's Green Park Stadium's Drainage System to be Upgraded After Rain Impacted Three Days of Action

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The Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, currently hosting the India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test, is set for a significant upgrade following disruptions caused by rain.

Play on Days 2 and 3 was entirely washed out, and while drizzle impacted play on Day 2, Day 3 saw no rain. However, a wet outfield prevented any cricket from being played, drawing criticism towards the stadium's drainage capabilities.

Rajiv Shukla, the vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a member of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), addressed the issue on Monday, confirming that talks with the state government to upgrade the stadium are already underway. Shukla acknowledged the shortcomings of the current drainage system but emphasized that nature's unpredictability played a significant role.

"Sometimes it happens, though we all pray to Lord Indra, that it should not rain... But 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 while defending the venue from criticism.

Shukla, a former UPCA president, pointed out that the technology available when Green Park was built did not allow for rapid water drainage. However, he assured that modern upgrades, similar to those in Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, will soon be implemented to improve the conditions at Green Park.

"Today I had a discussion with administration on how we can develop this system by which the rainy water can immediately be soaked," Shukla added, stating that the UPCA and the government are aligned in their efforts to improve the ground.

The Green Park Stadium, one of the oldest cricket venues in India, has not seen much Test cricket in recent years. Shukla acknowledged that more high-profile matches have been hosted at the upgraded Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, but he defended the decision to bring Test cricket to cities like Kanpur.

"We have to go by the rotation policy," he explained, stating that taking Test matches to smaller cities ensures that more fans have the opportunity to witness the game in person.

Despite the weather disruptions, Shukla noted that the turnout in Kanpur was promising, with fans flocking to the stadium even on rain-affected days. He reaffirmed the BCCI's commitment to developing cricket infrastructure in B-grade cities to keep the interest in Test cricket alive.