While wet outfield was the reason behind no play on Sunday, Bangladesh named their squad for the three-match T20I series. (PTI)
At 2 pm on Sunday, match referee Jeff Crowe called off the third day’s play of the second Test between India and Bangladesh. For two days in a row at Green Park now, play has been suspended without a bowl being bowled. Ironically, seconds after the umpires took the decision, the sun came out.
Day 3 started on a positive note with all the covers being removed by 9 am. Being a Sunday, there was a good turnout of fans too and they welcomed the match officials with rapturous applause. But promptly, match referee Jeff Crowe along with the on-field umpires Chris Brown and Richard Kettleborough pointed out damp areas around the mid-off, cover, gully, first and second slip regions, all for a right-hander facing up to the media box end.
While doing their pitch report, Murali Kartik and Athar Ali Khan mentioned that there are a few soggy patches near the bowler’s run-up too, which is never a good sign for play to begin.
During the next inspection at noon, the match officials pointed out a few more wet patches, including the practice pitch, which was later covered by the groundsmen.
The Indian team again preferred to stay in the hotel and didn’t travel to the venue, while the Bangladeshis turned up around 1:40 pm. But 20 minutes later the day was called off.
Kanpur: Match officials inspect the ground at the Green Park Stadium on the third day of the second test cricket match between India and Bangladesh, in Kanpur, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. A wet outfield due to overnight rain has delayed the start of play on day three of the match on Sunday. (PTI Photo/Vijay Verma)
Bangladesh was at 107/3 in its first innings, with all 35 overs bowled on a rain-truncated opening day. Rain and a wet outfield had meant that day two was also abandoned without a ball being bowled. India won the first test in Chennai by 280 runs to lead the two-match series.
On Day 2, rain stopped raining at 10 am but play was called off at 2 pm. On Day 3, there was not a single drop of rain but the dampness in the outfield due to poor outfield the play was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
According to the weather reports, there is no rain prediction of rain, which means there is a chance of having some cricketing action after two full days of no play. But a result now seems improbable.
Mehidy returns for Bangladesh in T20Is
Meanwhile, Bangladesh announced their 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series and all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz made a return to the T20I side after a 14-month hiatus. The three T20Is will be played in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad on October 6, 9 and 12 respectively.
Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah, Litton Kumer Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.
