The renovated Wankhede Stadium was opened to a privileged few a week back, on a Sunday evening with great fanfare. Among those present were some former cricketers, members of the affiliated units of the association and the media.
Those witness to Wankhede Stadium's colourful connection with Indian cricket know how it would heat up like a furnace in the sultry Mumbai weather. While the new stadium is well ventilated and has arrangement of bucket seats, it might not be pleasant viewing with spectators directly exposed to the sun.
The stadium that was built three decades ago had a lot of constraints as there was no scope for building something like the Brabourne Stadium.
The constraints of space still persist at the Wankhede Stadium and hence the capacity is reduced by 5000. But the main problem is that of cricketing conditions.
Not a single match has been played for the past two years on any of the pitches on the plot though some bowlers were asked to test the bounce of the pitch a month back. The major concern however is the grass on the outfield.
A company with no prior experience of preparing any sort of turf grounds was handed the contract for Rs. 2.2 crores.
The company in turn appointed a Bangalore-based company that has the experience of preparing turf fields.
The Bangalore company was asked to design the ground with drainage system and after completing the drainage system the first planting of the hybrid Bermuda grass akin to Tifway 419 was done on October 26, 2010. The planting of 13,400 square metres of turfsods was completed on January 20, 2011.
Stress test
As a process the ground needs to undergo stress test wherein the entire ground is totally drenched but before that test could be conducted the services of the Bangalore company were abruptly terminated on January 10, 2011. They were informed that the ground has been handed over to the MCA.
Experts say it takes a minimum of 90 days for any turf ground to be ready for playing after the entire planting of the turfsods is completed.
Why in the first place was the huge and important contract of Rs. 2.2 crores awarded to a company of a few individuals who had no experience of preparing turf grounds? Were tenders floated? On what basis did the ICC give a clean chit to the Wankhede Stadium when for minor reasons the India-England game was shifted from the historic Eden Gardens to the M. Chinnaswamy stadium?
As per the ICC directives all the venues had to conduct competitive matches from November 2010 but no competitive matches were held till date at the Wankhede whereas at Eden Gardens competitive matches were being played regularly. Not even a club match has been played at the Wankhede.
The shadow falling on the Wankhede pitch is another contentious issue.
Because of the raising of the height of the roof of the west and east stands, the shadow falls on the pitch around 4 o'clock in the evening like a zebra crossing with mixture of sunrays and shadow. The shadow will force the umpires to stop the game especially in a day-night game.
The ICC has to be realistic. Extending deadlines is not the solution. Is the Wankhede Stadium really ready for the big game is what the ICC needs to answer.
