With improper drainage facilities, no play possible on second day of Mumbai-Railways game; cricketers help groundsmen to dry ground
On Monday morning, Mumbai cricketers, instead of playing, were seen doing what groundsmen do. It was not a team bonding exercise, but they were helping out Delhi's Karnail Singh Stadium groundsmen, who were trying to remove water from the outfield left by heavy overnight rain.
Led by vice-captain Abhishek Nayar, around eight other players including skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Kshemal Waingankar and Aditya Tare were seen with sponges and buckets in hand, absorbing the ground water. They did it for close to half-an-hour before Railways' curator Sanjeev Agarwal requested them not to do it further.
Lack of proper drainage system and the improper working of the super-sopper saw another day of the Group 'A' Ranji Trophy encounter between Mumbai and hosts Railways go waste.
Mumbai, who lost to Jammu & Kashmir last week at the Wankhede, are desperate to open their account. And, they were looking for an outright win against Railways.
Mumbai team manager Shrikant Tigdi said the boys were ready to help without being asked. "They did not have the man power, so we thought of volunteering. Anyway, there was nothing to do, so the boys got going. Later, we did our fielding drills," said Tigdi.
Coach Pravin Amre, however, is unhappy with two days going waste. "It is a first-class venue, so the drainage facilities should be proper. Although the two days got wasted, I don't know when the match will start. Let's hope things turns positive by tomorrow," Amre said.
RSPB chief Rekha Yadav, who inspected the groundwork, said, "No one could factor the rain and also for the last two years the super-sopper was not required as there were no matches. We are trying our best and hopefully things will fall in place."
The groundsmen also got a tray of burning coal that helps to dry up the surface at grounds where they can't avail helicopters. Incidentally, Railways and Services are two members who don't get BCCI annual grants like other state associations since they are institutional units. Railways gets Rs 1 lakh per match from BCCI to organise a first-class match.
—With inputs from PTI
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