Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed strong criticism towards Cricket South Africa (CSA) after the opening match of Team India’s series against South Africa was abandoned due to continuous rainfall in Durban.
Following their impressive 4-1 victory against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav’s Team India began their multi-format tour in South Africa. This tour, which holds the potential to boost Cricket South Africa’s financial situation, commenced with the first match being called off at Kingsmead without any play due to the persistent rains.
CSA stands to earn over a billion rand ($53 million) primarily from TV rights with India’s tour. Pholetsi Moseki, CSA’s CEO, had highlighted the significance of the India series in stabilizing the board’s finances.
However, the rain at Durban disrupted the first match of India’s South Africa tour, leading Gavaskar to express disappointment at CSA’s preparations for the series opener.
Gavaskar launched a scathing attack on CSA during a televised commentary, criticizing the cricket board for failing to cover the entire field when rain arrived at the venue before the coin toss.
He emphasized that all cricket boards possess substantial financial resources and suggested that they should invest in covering the entire ground to avoid such situations. Despite acknowledging that other boards might not have as much money as the BCCI, he highlighted the necessity for adequate ground covers.
Reflects on Cricket World Cup 2019
Reflecting on the 2019 World Cup, Gavaskar highlighted how inclement weather in England led to numerous abandoned matches. He recalled instances where rain-soaked grounds resulted in abandoned or no-result games during the tournament, including India’s match against New Zealand and other encounters.
Special Praise for Sourav Ganguly
Gavaskar also commended former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly for ensuring that Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, under his leadership, implemented a comprehensive ground cover system to avoid interruptions due to rain.
He stressed that other cricket boards should take similar initiatives to cover the entire ground, ensuring no excuses for disruptions caused by inclement weather.
