Shocked Zaheer Khan Slams Guwahati Ground Staff After Wet Pitch Abandons First T20I

Former India fast-bowler Zaheer Khan has criticised the ground staff’s work at the Barsapara cricket stadium in Guwahati where the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka got abandoned without a ball being bowled. Despite rain lasting less than an hour after the toss, the ground staff could not prepare the pitches for the game to go ahead.

At first, it looked like the game would go ahead after the toss took place as per the schedule. But just moments before Virat Kohli and his men could take the field, rain arrived. The showers lasted less than an hour and the ground staff immediately covered the pitch – and the bowlers’ run-ups.

However, it did not stop the water from falling onto the pitch. The ground staff then resorted to various measures, ranging from using hair-dryers to steam irons, in order to dry the wet patches near the middle of the pitch, but to no avail. And almost three hours after the game was about to start, the umpires called off the game.

Zaheer Khan unimpressed:

Zaheer Khan expressed his displeasure with the work of the ground staff after the match was called off. The legendary bowler, in fact, used the word shocked to state his feelings over the turn of events in Guwahati.

“When there is water on the wicket that really changes the dynamics of the game. Everyone was shocked because the rain stopped and in today’s day and age this is the last thing on your mind that water has gone on the wicket through the covers.

“Bit disappointing but we don’t know the exact story. Maybe the pitch wasn’t covered properly because to hear a cover not being taken properly is something which is unheard of,” Zaheer Khan told Cricbuzz.

Also Read: Shoaib Akhtar Voices His Opinion On Proposed Four-Day Tests