Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes Cricket South Africa for Poor Ground Protection Measures

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar heavily criticized Cricket South Africa for inadequate ground covers during the recent T20I match against India, leading to a washout. He emphasized the need for complete ground protection, highlighting Sourav Ganguly's measures at Eden Gardens. Gavaskar recalled past events to stress the significance of ground coverings.

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Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar voiced severe discontentment with Cricket South Africa (CSA) after the first T20I match between India and South Africa was abandoned due to rain at Kingsmead in Durban. Gavaskar sharply criticized CSA for their failure to adequately cover the ground, leaving the outfield exposed during persistent drizzle.

In an interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar emphasized the necessity of covering the entire ground during rain interruptions to ensure timely game resumption. He called out cricket boards, asserting that they possess ample financial resources to invest in comprehensive ground covers. As an exemplar, he lauded Sourav Ganguly's management at Eden Gardens, where full ground protection was maintained.

Drawing attention to past events like the 2019 Men's Cricket World Cup in England, Gavaskar highlighted the consequences of inadequate ground covering, leading to match abandonments and teams losing crucial points.

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Gavaskar's criticisms underscored the importance of proactively safeguarding against weather disruptions, urging cricket boards worldwide to prioritize complete ground protection to avoid such game disruptions. He stressed that such measures are essential, particularly in international tournaments where outcomes significantly impact teams' standings.

As the second T20I approaches at St. George's Park in Gqeberha, reports surfaced indicating that Indian pacer Deepak Chahar might be absent for the remainder of the series. Chahar remained in India due to a family member's deteriorating health, necessitating urgent medical attention.

Gavaskar's vocal dissatisfaction with CSA's rain protocol and ground management highlights the need for stringent measures to ensure the uninterrupted flow of cricket matches, especially in the face of unpredictable weather conditions.