Steam iron was also used by the ground staff to get the pitch ready for the match
05 January, 2020
PHOTO: Twitter
The ground staff at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati made use of the hair dryer to dry the wet patches on the pitch after rain delayed the start of the first Twenty International (T20I) between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Steam iron was also another item which was used by the ground staff in order to get the pitch ready for the match.
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However, these techniques to dry the pitch didn’t go down well with the fans, who took to Twitter to criticise the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Seriously, Are we really the richest board in the world?? When we can't afford measures to tackle these issues. Steam iron and hair dryer being used to dry the pitch... Creative yet poor measures. #INDvSL #Guwahati pic.twitter.com/sKcFquks8t
— Nakul Kulshrestha (@NakulKulshrest1) January 5, 2020
Hair dryer and iron (Yes the one used for ironing clothes) deployed to dry the pitch. LOL. Unprecedented.
— Gaurav Chattur (@chatturg) January 5, 2020
On serious note, heads need to roll at @BCCI @SGanguly99 #INDvsSL
The hair dryer and steam iron are being used now to dry the pitch. Sri Lanka should have taken R Premadasa stadium rain covers to India 🇱🇰🏏 #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/tQxR50axPL
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) January 5, 2020
The lady who tried to roast chicken with hair dryer has competition!#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/w72qWqpFBG
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) January 5, 2020
BCCI the giant of International Cricket when it comes to money... Still uses a hair dryer to dry a ground in India...#INDvSL @BCCI pic.twitter.com/coHIuQohRu
— Manju J (@ManjuJovin) January 5, 2020
Some Twitter users even compared this incident with a Pakistan Super League (PSL) season three match in Lahore, where a helicopter was used by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to dry the wet outfield.
Pic 1- in Guhawati ( India) #INDVSL
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) January 5, 2020
Pic 2 - at Pakistan ( #PSL) pic.twitter.com/khG3BT4dCb
Indian captain Virat Kohli had opted to field first after winning the toss. However, just as pacer Jasprit Bumrah was getting ready to bowl the first delivery, rain arrived and stopped the play.
The match was eventually called off due to a damp pitch. The teams now head to Indore for the second T20I on January 7.
