"You just can't cover the pitch..." - Sunil Gavaskar slams ICC after India vs Canada gets abandoned

Updated - 15 Jun 2024, 10:45 PM

SunilGavaskarI, India vs Canada
SunilGavaskarI, India vs Canada (Credits: X)

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the ICC after the game between India and Canada in the ongoing T20 World Cup was called off without a ball being bowled.

The game was scheduled to be played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, in Florida. Although there was not a lot of rain in the region on the match day, the game had to be called due to the wet outfield. The outfield was left in unplayable condition due to the rain received by the region earlier this week including on Friday (June 14).

Even though the rain stayed away on Saturday, no action was possible between India and Canada as the outfield was deemed unplayable by the umpires. This is Lauderhill's third abandoned match in as many games in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Earlier this week, the Sri Lanka vs Nepal and USA vs Ireland games were abandoned as well.

The washout proved very costly for Sri Lanka as they were knocked out of the T20 World Cup. On the other hand, the second washout knocked Pakistani out of the T20 World Cup while the USA booked their spot in the Super 8s. With all three games in Florida abandoned due to unplayable conditions, Sunil Gavaskar has vented his frustration.

The former cricketer-turned-commentator said that the ICC should not conduct games at a venue that does not have covers for the entire ground. 

"ICC should not host the matches where there are no covers to cover the entire ground. You just can't cover the pitch and let the other parts of the ground get wet," said Gavaskar after the India vs Canada game was abandoned.

India and USA qualify from Group A:

From Group A, India and the USA have qualified for the Super 8s while Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada have been knocked out. India finished their campaign in the group stage with 7 points while the USA collected 5. Canada, on the other hand, bowed out of the competition with 3 points while Pakistan and Ireland have 2 and 1 point so far respectively. Ireland and Pakistan are set to lock horns against each other in their last group-stage game. 

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Sunil Gavaskar India National Cricket Team ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Canada National Cricket Team ICC ICC T20 World Cup