OCA not to allow rain gods to spoil India-SA T20 at Odisha’s Barabati

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Sep 20:

Wisened after the washout of the India-Australia one-day match it suffered two years ago, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has put in place systems to ensure that en encore does not happen during the upcoming T20 match between India and South Africa on October 5.

With the new systems in place, the curator and the groundsmen of the Barabati Stadium in Odisha’s Cuttack are confident about their ability to deal with temporary flooding of the ground this time.

With the construction of modern drainage system underneath the ground and other water evacuating and drying up equipment on standby, the authorities of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) are upbeat about facing any challenge thrown by the rain God during the second T20 match here in the first week of next month.

Two years ago, India-Australia ODI was washed out due to heavy rain with the stadium was waterlogged due to absence of proper drainage system. The authorities had to press helicopters into service to dry up the field. But, all their efforts went in vain. The match was abandoned leaving thousands of cricket lovers disappointed.

However, the OCA authorities claim that they are better equipped to deal with such a situation this time.

“If it doesn’t rain a day before the match and sunny conditions prevail then we would be able to make the ground match-fit,” an OCA staff said.

The outfield has been made a bit inclined to facilitate drainage of water. Besides, powerful motors have been put on standby to evacuate waters and two super suckers will also come in handy to dry up the outfield in lesser time, sources said.

The ground staff would be on their toes to cover the pitch, the 30-yard circle, square field and the bowlers’ run-up to prevent it from getting damp, he added.