For a brief 26 minutes on Thursday, the spotlight was firmly on Shakib Al Hasan in a conference room at Green Park Stadium. The seasoned Bangladesh all-rounder casually revealed details of his conversation with the board chief and selectors, signaling the end of his illustrious Test career. Shakib, the country’s most decorated cricketer, wishes for a farewell in Mirpur. However, due to prevailing political tensions, this ambition comes with inherent risks. Thus, the upcoming Kanpur Test, starting on Friday, might very well be his last hurrah.
While speculations surrounding Shakib’s retirement at Green Park swirl, another left-arm spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, stands on the other side, anticipating his debut international game at home after a seven-year-long career. For both Shakib and Kuldeep, a grand occasion—farewell or a long-awaited welcome—hinges on the venue’s ability to counter the predicted rains over the next three days.
Green Park, a site of numerous historic events in Indian cricket, now resembles a typical 1990s Indian stadium, albeit stripped of its former charm. Some critiques point out its shortcomings: a stand questioned for crowd control issues, practice nets too close to the boundary ropes, and floodlights that last failed during a Test match. Despite these adversities, the venue director asserts that the ground is fully prepared to host the second Test against Bangladesh, complete with the necessary clearances and a record crowd anticipated.
The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is aware of Green Park’s deficiencies, preferring to host more prominent matches at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium in recent years. This newer venue boasts numerous modern enhancements, including a superior drainage system—an asset Green Park sometimes lacks. Historical evidence exacerbates concerns; a brief eight-minute drizzle seven years ago rendered the pitch unplayable for an entire day during a Duleep Trophy match. However, the current venue director remains confident, citing measures such as ground tarpaulin sheets, two super-soppers, and an improved drainage system to mitigate the forecasted inclement weather.
External concerns also plague the stadium. The outside walls of the stadium, previously adorned with advertisements for paan masala brands splattered with stains of deep red, are being painted white. Following protests from a right-wing group demanding a no-show against Bangladesh, a monkey invasion also threatens the venue. With a bit of humor, the venue director assured, “No need to worry about the monkeys; we have called langurs to deal with them.”
In an elaborated plan, the ‘Shine Green Park’ initiative features prominently. Organizers thumped tables as they laid out their grand vision, appealing for even louder applause when Rajiv Shukla’s contributions to Kanpur cricket were celebrated. Despite expressing disappointment over questions regarding the venue’s readiness, they urged the local populace to attend in large numbers—only the second Test in eight years for the venue.
For the venue director, the scheduled five-day contest transcends mere cricket; it symbolizes the ‘pride of Kanpur.
.’ Plans include inviting and honoring families of martyrs from the surrounding areas. Trees will be planted to commemorate their sacrifices, further aiming to make ‘Green Park even greener.’ “This Test match will be played on the theme of ‘Shine Green Park,’ ‘Shine Kanpur,'” the director explained. Stressing the developmental aspect, he added, “This match is about the vikaas [development] of Green Park, the vikaas of Kanpur.” He punctuated his speech by highlighting record ticket sales, stating, “We’ve sold more tickets than the previous time. This time, ticket sales have reached INR 1.15 Crore, compared to INR 93 lakh last time.”
The true test of all these claims begins on Friday when Bangladesh seeks to level the series against a dominant Indian side amid their own cricketing struggles. Ultimately, whether Shakib and Kuldeep steal the spotlight in what could be a momentous game for both will decide if the focus remains on the cricket. Rain may offer time for reflection, but if the game itself grabs attention, it will benefit the cricketers, the stadium, the organizers, and Test cricket as a whole.
The match will commence on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 9:30 AM IST, with overcast conditions expected to play a part in the initial three days. These conditions might offer pacers some assistance on an otherwise spin-friendly pitch.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, might field three spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav, amidst light rain disruptions. Probable XI includes top names like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant.
Bangladesh, not having had adequate practice owing to rain, might also include an additional spinner. Their line-up comprises experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das.
When interviewed, Shakib said, “In this Test match, if we can score 350 or somewhere there, I think that will be a huge improvement. 350 to 400 in the first innings will give us a lot of confidence and boost our team.” Meanwhile, Abhishek Nayar, India’s assistant coach, added, “Both pitches look pretty good. A lot will depend on the conditions when we turn up in the morning.”
As the teams head into a potentially landmark Test, all eyes will be on Green Park to see if it lives up to the hype and historical significance.