‘Rain-proof measures a must in Indian stadiums before ODI World Cup’ | Cricket News – Times of India

Other state units should learn from rain management at Chinnaswamy, says former BCCI CAO Ratnakar Shetty
AHMEDABAD: With the IPL final between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night being pushed to the reserve day due to heavy rain, there is a growing concern on whether venues in the country are well-equipped to ensure that play starts as soon as showers stop, especially in the light of the fact that the ICC ODI World Cup in India later this year will be played in the months of October and November, a time when the North East monsoon is active.
While the drainage system at this gigantic stadium is world-class, as was evident when a full 20 overs-a-side match was witnessed here during qualifier 2 between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians on Friday night despite rain in the evening, some of the other venues in India aren’t as adept at ensuring play isn’t curtailed or affected when heavy showers pound the venue.

A classic example of a venue staging a full game despite heavy rain just before the match was evident when the last league match of IPL2023, between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and GT, was held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore despite a hailstorm just before the match. It resulted in a thrilling climax, with GT chasing down RCB’s huge target, as Virat Kohli (RCB) and Shubman Gill (GT) scored fabulous centuries.
Prof Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) wants all other cricket associations in India to learn from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which staged that match in Bangalore, when it comes to “developing infrastructure” which prevents play from getting lost due to bad weather. Shetty stressed that this was particularly in a year when India is set to host the ODI World Cup.
“There was a hailstorm till 4.30 pm and plenty of rain in Bangalore that day. Yet, once the rain stopped, not an over when was deducted. We witnessed a full game, which resulted in a thrilling climax to the league stage of the IPL. This was only possible due to the infrastructure, the sub air system installed by the KSCA at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. I must compliment the KSCA for their vision to upgrade infrastructure at that venue a decade ago,” Shetty told TOI.

“All the associations get the same grant from the BCCI. If the KSCA has installed the solar panels, sub air system and STP (sewage water treatment system), the other state units too must spend on developing the same kind of infrastructure. It shows that they care for players, fans and all the stakeholders in the game,” felt the veteran administrator.
According to sources, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) became the second association in India to install a sub-air system, at its picturesque stadium in Dharamsala, when it renovated its outfield recently, due to which it had to skip the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in February-March.
The BCCI is planning a massive renovation and upgradation of at least five major stadiums, with an estimated cost of over Rs 500 crore, ahead of the ODI World Cup in October-November in India. Shetty wants the Board to ensure that the state associations hosting World Cup matches are made to spend money on developing infrastructure.
“Considering that the tournament will be played in months in which rain can be an impediment, the BCCI has to ensure that all the staging venues must have the right infrastructure to ensure that the game starts as soon as possible once the rain stops. When you have so much money, you should be able to ensure these kinds of things,” Shetty said.