The abandonment of the game after just a passing evening shower again showed the poor drainage system of the iconic Eden Gardens as the umpires called off the match post their 9:30 pm inspection much to the dismay of the few thousands, who had come to the ground to watch in expectation of an exciting encounter.
The failure to start the match even after seven hours also potrayed Cricket Association of Bengal in a very poor light as the match could not be started despite using three super soppers. Veteran curator Prabir Mukherjee's role has also come under scanner as the outfield was not covered despite the forecasts of a passing shower and knowledge of the stadium's dubious record in times of rain interruptions.
"The rainfall at the Eden Gardens however can be less or more but we cannot ascertain that as we don't have any instrument there," regional Met director GC Debnath told PTI blaming the rainfall on the low pressure formation in Bay of Bengal.
But as it turned out after three rounds of inspections at every hour's interval beginning with 7.30 it was about delaying the inevitable -- another abandonment with little or no rain.
Surprising as it may sound but only the match strip and the two practice pitches on both the sides of the dressing room were covered during the spell of rain despite the fact that the Eden has the option to fully cover the ground.
Minutes after the rain subsided in the afternoon, the former India captain and now CAB supremo Ganguly was seen taking a stock of the situation of the ground with his denims rolled up.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
