"BCCI should ban Kanpur from hosting Test matches" - Basit Ali slams UPCA following wet outfield fiasco in IND vs BAN 2024 2nd Test
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali opined that Kanpur should not be allowed to host Test matches in the future. He suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should ban the Green Park stadium. He feels that the venue doesn't have the right equipment to dry the outfield.
Basit's frustrated response came after Day 2 and Day 3 of the ongoing second Test between India and Bangladesh were called off due to rain and a wet outfield. It is worth mentioning that the play was called off despite there being no showers on the third day.
The cricketer-turned-expert pointed out that the result of the Kanpur Test was crucial for Team India in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC). In his latest YouTube video, Basit said:
"The BCCI should ban Kanpur from hosting Test matches. This match ending in a draw will have an impact on India's chances of making it to the WTC final. They won't understand it now as everyone thinks that India will win all three Tests against New Zealand. There could be a problem for India if one of those matches ends in a draw. Kanpur doesn't deserve to host a Test match."
Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field first in the Kanpur Test. Just 35 overs were bowled on the opening day and the stumps were called early due to rain. Bangladesh finished at 107/3, with Mominul Haque (40) and Mushfiqur Rahim (6) unbeaten at the crease.
"It's surprising to see something like this in India" - Basit Ali on play being called off due to wet outfield
Basit Ali seemed surprised by the lack of facilities in Kanpur. He emphasized that he didn't expect these things in India, considering that the BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world.
Highlighting that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Associaton has now been exposed with this fiasco, Basit said in the aforementioned video:
"Before the start of the Test, the head of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association made big claims like the pitch and ground are fantastic and they have a very good system in place. Everything got exposed. It hasn't rained since last night and they still couldn't dry the ground. It's surprising to see something like this in India."
India are currently placed at the top of the WTC points table. However, if the ongoing Kanpur Test ends in a draw, the Men in Blue will need to win five out of their remaining eight Test matches of the cycle. This is also assuming that the top two contenders do not drop points.