For 26 intense minutes on Thursday, the spotlight in the Green Park Stadium’s conference room was squarely on Shakib Al Hasan. The seasoned Bangladesh all-rounder delivered bombshell news, casually revealing details of his discussions with the board chief and selectors, hinting at a potential end to his Test career. Shakib, the most celebrated cricketer in Bangladesh, desires a grand farewell at home in Mirpur. However, given the volatile political climate, the prospects of such a farewell are laced with risk. It raises the stakes for the Kanpur Test starting on Friday, which could potentially be his last.
While there’s ambiguity over whether Shakib will call time on his Test career at Green Park, on the other side, Kuldeep Yadav, an Indian left-arm spinner, stands on the threshold of another significant milestone. Kuldeep is eagerly awaiting his first international game at home in a career spanning seven years.
For either cricketer to experience a memorable send-off or a promising debut, they’ll be hoping that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has adequately prepared for the anticipated rains over the next three days. Green Park, a venue of historical importance in Indian cricket, still retains the aura of the 1990s Indian stadiums, albeit with a few modern upgrades. There are concerns; one of the stands faced delays in clearance to hold large crowds, and the practice nets are perilously close to the boundary ropes. Additionally, the floodlights malfunctioned during the last Test India played at the venue.
Despite these concerns, the venue director confidently asserts that Green Park is fit and fully prepared to host the second Test against Bangladesh, with all essential clearances obtained and a record crowd expected. The venue’s limitations are well-known. It’s no surprise that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has opted to host more high-profile matches at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium in recent years, which flaunts modern advancements, including a superior drainage system.
Historically, Green Park’s obsolescence was starkly highlighted during a Duleep Trophy match seven years ago, where an eight-minute drizzle rendered the ground unusable for an entire day. Yet, the venue director is unfazed, expressing confidence in their preparations to tackle the forecasted drizzle. Tarpaulin sheets enshroud nearly the entire field, complemented by two super-soppers and the director’s assurance of the ground’s upgraded drainage system.
However, weather-related challenges aren’t the only concerns. The exterior stadium walls, adorned with paan masala ads and their unsavory residue, are currently being repainted. Just days after quelling protests from a right-wing group demanding a no-play policy with Bangladesh, the organizers are now tackling a monkey menace. Addressing the situation lightly, the venue director quipped, “No need to worry about the monkey. We have called langurs to deal with them.”
In a triumphant tone, the vision for the ‘Shine Green Park’ Test was presented amidst rapturous applause. A more spirited ‘thumping taaliyan ho jaaye’ was solicited when Rajiv Shukla’s contributions to Kanpur cricket were acknowledged. The director lamented the doubts cast on their readiness and urged the public to fill the stands, highlighting that this is only the second Test match hosted at the venue in eight years.
For him, the five-day event represents more than just a cricket match—it encapsulates the ‘pride of Kanpur.’ Plans to honor the families of local martyrs by inviting them and planting a tree in their honor were unveiled, aiming to make ‘Green Park even greener.’
“This Test match will be played on the theme of ‘Shine Green Park,’ ‘Shine Kanpur,'” the director expounded, emphasizing the developmental achievements tied to the event.
. He boasted about record-breaking ticket sales, “We’ve sold more tickets than last time. This time, ticket sales are worth INR 1.15 Crore, up from INR 93 lakh previously.”
Starting Friday, the claims of Green Park’s readiness will face scrutiny when Bangladesh, grappling with internal cricketing challenges, aims to square the series against the formidable Indian side. The match’s spotlight might be stolen by the cricket showdown, if not by Shakib’s potential farewell or Kuldeep’s home debut. If cricket dominates the narrative despite the inclement weather tomorrow, it would be a commendable tribute to the players, the stadium, the organizers, and Test cricket’s resilience.
When: Starting Friday, September 27, 2024, 9:30 AM IST
Where: India vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Green Park, Kanpur
What to expect: Rain may influence the first three days. Overcast conditions through the five days could aid pacers on a pitch expected to stay low and turn early.
Team News:
India: Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah opted out of the optional practice session a day before the match. India might consider fielding three spinners, potentially paving the way for Kuldeep Yadav instead of a pacer.
**Probable XI:** Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj/Jasprit Bumrah.
Bangladesh: Due to rain, Bangladesh couldn’t practice a day before the game. Shakib, despite an undisclosed discomfort, had two sessions in the nets but batted only briefly. The coach confirmed no reports from the team physio implying Shakib’s unavailability. Bangladesh might include an additional spinner.
**Probable XI:** Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed/Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam.
What they 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.” – Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh all-rounder.
“I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet. But both the pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet. With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting as to how when we turn up to go in the morning, the conditions are. A lot will depend on that. It is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions.” – Abhishek Nayar, India’s assistant coach.