Fourth day's play washed out; irked Tharoor lambasts KCA

Rain continued to play spoilsport in the Duleep Trophy final between North Zone and South Zone with the fourth day’s play also called off due to a wet ground here on Sunday.

The first and third day's play were also called off without a ball being bowled and with today, a total of 350 overs have been lost due to bad weather and soggy ground conditions.

Only day two of the match witnessed some action when South Zone won the toss and were reduced to 33 for 2 in 10 overs.

Meanwhile, Union minister Shashi Tharoor on Sunday lashed out at Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).

“KCA has brought disgrace to d state w/two major matches washed out. Who benefitted from the Rs. 8 crore spent on drainage system?” the minister said in his tweet.

“KCA annual reports list JNI Stadium upgradation expenditure in crores. Since pavilion was already done,wasn’t drainage the main expense?

“Cricket fans await explanations of what KCA spent on stadium upgradation & drainage. Rains haven’t prevented matches on sunny days before,” he wrote.

KCA President, TC Mathew responded saying Tharoor’s tweet was “immature” and had been made without understanding facts.

“Those who wish that KCA should not have a stadium of its own are trying to create controversy. We have not taken any amount from the government for drainage work,” he said.

“The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium was not for cricket alone but for football matches also,” he added.