Sunil Gavaskar Slams Cricket South Africa Over Rain-Affected Series Opener: Calls for Better Ground Cover

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his frustration after the series opener between India and South Africa at Durban’s Kingsmead Stadium was abandoned due to persistent rain. Gavaskar launched an on-air attack on Cricket South Africa (CSA), questioning their preparations for the match.

Consequences of Uncovered Grounds

“If the ground remains uncovered and the rain stops, you know it doesn’t start for another one hour. Suddenly it rains again. So there’s no play whatsoever,” Gavaskar told Star Sports, highlighting the consequences of leaving the field exposed to the elements.

Gavaskar acknowledged the financial disparities among cricket boards but insisted that all boards, including CSA, possess sufficient funds to invest in ground covers. “All the cricket boards have got plenty of money. If they say they don’t, they are lying. They might not have as much money as the BCCI. Fair enough. But every board has got money to buy these covers to cover the entire ground,” he added.

Reflecting on the 2019 World Cup in England, Gavaskar drew parallels to the current situation, noting how several matches were affected due to rain. “So many World Cup matches in England did not take place because the ground was not covered. The rain had stopped, but the rest of the ground was wet. So a lot of teams lost points,” he recalled, emphasizing the need for comprehensive ground coverage.

Praise for Sourav Ganguly’s Initiative

The cricketing icon also reserved praise for Sourav Ganguly, the former BCCI president, for implementing a fully covered rain management system at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. “Sourav Ganguly was the man in charge, and he made sure that nobody could point the finger at Eden Gardens,” Gavaskar stated, urging other boards to follow suit.

As India’s tour to South Africa holds significant financial implications for CSA, with an expected earning of more than a billion rand ($53 million) from TV rights, Gavaskar’s criticisms highlight the importance of proactive measures in ensuring the smooth conduct of matches, irrespective of adverse weather conditions.