Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Where will Bengal play its next home game after a missed opportunity for technical irresponsibility?
Xtra Time Web Desk: Bengal's upcoming home Ranji Trophy match against Kerala, originally scheduled to be held at the Bengal Cricket Academy (BCA) in Kalyani, has now been shifted to Jadavpur University 2nd Campus Ground, Salt Lake, due to concerns over the ground conditions at Kalyani. Cyclone Dana is advancing towards Bengal, with its impact expected in the next few days, but the state of the Kalyani ground has already raised questions. The Bengal vs. Bihar match was abandoned after persistent rain left the field waterlogged, resulting in Bengal and Bihar sharing a single point each—a disappointing outcome for Bengal, who were hoping for a full seven points against a relatively weaker Bihar side.
The blame game started shortly after the match was called off. Madan Mohan Ghosh, chairman of the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) grounds committee, denied responsibility for the Kalyani ground, stating it falls under the jurisdiction of the Bengal Cricket Academy. However, Jeet Bandyopadhyay, chairman of the Bengal Cricket Academy, countered Ghosh’s claims, stating that the Academy doesn’t manage the ground either. The lack of proper ground preparation, especially given the weather forecast, raised questions about the CAB's readiness, despite having advanced equipment like an Australian coring machine, which was never used.
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The match's abandonment was especially disappointing as it was supposed to be Abhimanyu Easwaran’s 100th first-class game. With no toss held, the game won’t count towards his milestone, adding to the frustration.
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As Bengal prepares for their next match, now to be held at Salt Lake, the CAB has assured that the ground will be fully covered ahead of the looming cyclone. However, with tough group-stage matches ahead against strong teams like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab, the points lost from the abandoned match could severely hurt Bengal's knockout aspirations. This abandoned game might become a pivotal moment in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign, especially if they fall short of qualifying for the quarterfinals.
