BCCI Breaks Silence on Kanpur Fiasco as Vice-President Rajiv Shukla Issues 'Permanent Centre' Reminder

Outrage erupted on social media as disappointed fans voiced their displeasure over the lack of play on Days 2 and 3 of the second Test due to poor outfield conditions. Many took to social platforms to criticize the BCCI for the glaring errors, going as far as dubbing Kanpur as the "worst venue." The presence of wet patches in the outfield and near the bowler's run-up only added fuel to the fire, raising doubts about the venue's inadequate drainage system.

However, Shukla, speaking to the media on Monday on the sidelines of the action on Day 4, defended the facilities at the Green Park Stadium. He said: "Well, criticism is one thing which we are used to in the administration of the BCCI in cricket. But everything is being criticised. When we are not giving matches to Kanpur because [of certain reasons], then also I was being criticised. Now we are giving the match and I am still being criticised why it has been given to Kanpur. So that goes on.

"You know the problem is that this ground is around 80 years old. It is our heritage ground. If you remember it used to be a permanent Test centre. The original six permanent Test centres were Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kanpur. This is a permanent centre. So the whole idea was to have Test matches here. This is the first time in 80 years that it rained so much that we were not able to host the match for two days."

The primary concern of the fans, and more so among the experts, was that the abandoned Days 2 and 3 sparked a large possibility of a drawn result in Kanpur, which could leave India in a tricky position as they chase a third consecutive qualification in the WTC final.

Shukla, who hails from Kanpur, reminded that Green Park had never witnessed an abandoned match, although he conceded that the drainage system does need an improvement.

"The history suggests that no match has been abandoned here in Kanpur. There are many venues in the world where because of the rains, matches have been abandoned. So here if for two days the match couldn't take place, I don't think there should be too much hue and cry," Shukla said. "When this ground was being built, and the stadium was being built, then those technologies were not available. Now technologies are available. Like in our Lucknow stadium, we have got that technology. And in Varanasi, we are building another stadium. There we have got high-tech, modern technology to take away the rainwater.

"Here also we are planning. "The moment I came here, I had a long discussion with government officials because this stadium belongs to the government. We are in agreement with them. So, now for that, the ground has to be dug, new technology has to be applied and everything has to be done. So, immediately after coming here, I had a discussion with the authorities and they are also on the same page and I think we will be able to improve the conditions here shortly."