Asia Cup 2023: ACC pronounces USD 50,000 for Sri Lankan groundstaff for tireless efforts amidst wet climate

The Asia Cup 2023, hosted in Sri Lanka, has been a event marked by thrilling cricketing encounters and unpredictable climate. Amidst the high-octane matches and steady rain disruptions, a bunch of unsung heroes has emerged – the groundstaff on the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The remaining of the Asia Cup between India and Sri Lanka was additionally delayed by 40 minutes as a consequence of rain and a moist outfield. However, the groundstaff obtained the bottom prepared regardless of the heavy downpour. Jay Shah, the Honourary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), lauded the groundsmen for his or her exhausting work.

Shah took to X and wrote, “Big Shoutout to the Unsung Heroes of Cricket! The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are proud to announce well-deserved prize money of USD 50,000 for the dedicated curators and groundsmen at Colombo and Kandy.

“Their unwavering commitment and hard work made the Asia Cup 2023 an unforgettable spectacle. From pitch perfection to lush outfields, they ensured the stage was set for thrilling cricket action. This recognition highlights the critical role these individuals play in cricket’s success. Let’s celebrate and honour their yeoman services!” he added.

🏏🏟️ Big Shoutout to the Unsung Heroes of Cricket! 🙌

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are proud to announce a well-deserved prize cash of USD 50,000 for the devoted curators and groundsmen at Colombo and Kandy. ðŸÆ

Their unwavering dedication andâ€æ
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 17, 2023

Groundstaff working exhausting in Asia Cup 2023

The event noticed a number of matches affected by heavy rain, resulting in delays and even rescheduling of video games. The India vs Pakistan match, scheduled for September tenth, 2023, was one such encounter that needed to be pushed to a reserve day as a consequence of incessant rain. Despite these challenges, the groundstaff labored tirelessly, beginning their day as early as 4 am, to make sure the matches might proceed with minimal delay.

The groundstaff’s efforts had been significantly noteworthy through the Super Four stage of the event, which included groups from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. They devised an efficient technique to shortly drain water from the sector. Instead of counting on expertise like tremendous soppers, which transfer slowly and take up little water, they used conventional strategies. The whole floor was coated, after which the water was moved from cowl to cowl into the drains located exterior the boundary ropes. This course of was repeated till the taking part in space was freed from water.

Godfrey Dabare, the chief curator of the R Premadasa Stadium, defined that this handbook technique saved time and was extra environment friendly given the native circumstances. He additionally highlighted the groundstaff’s proactive strategy. They would shortly cowl the bottom as quickly as they sensed rain was imminent, prioritizing the sq. earlier than protecting the remainder of the sector.

In addition to their common duties, the groundstaff additionally innovatively used a ‘heater bulb’ and followers to dry the pitch and outfield, making certain play might resume as shortly as potential after a downpour. This ingenuity, coupled with their tireless efforts, performed an important position in enabling matches to proceed regardless of the difficult climate circumstances.

Edited By:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published On:

Sep 17, 2023