Legendary Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back his criticism after the first match of Team India’s series against South Africa was called off due to rain. Despite India’s recent success against Australia, the tour, crucial for Cricket South Africa (CSA), started on a disappointing note with the opening game at Kingsmead being abandoned without any play due to persistent rain.
Former Indian captain criticized Cricket South Africa (CSA) on live TV, slamming them for not using covers on the entire cricket field during rain before the toss. He said “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. Everybody (cricket boards) is getting a lot of money. Let’s make no mistake. 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,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
Gavaskar also singled out former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly for praise. As of May 2023, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stands out as the only Indian stadium equipped with a comprehensive rain management system.
Gavaskar emphasized the need for all cricket boards to follow suit and cover the entire playing field, with no room for excuses. He recalled a previous instance at Eden Gardens where a Test match had faced issues, prompting Ganguly, in his leadership role, to ensure that the entire ground was covered for the next game. Gavaskar commended Ganguly’s proactive approach, highlighting it as the kind of initiative needed to prevent criticisms and disruptions due to weather.