Raina fumes, soggy Green Park leaves Duleep tie in doubt

A WATERLOGGED GROUND TODAY RAISED SERIOUS DOUBTS OVER A PROMPT START TO THE GAME ON TUESDAY

KANPUR: Skipper Suresh Raina’s outburst against Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association’s COO Deepak Sharma for not managing things properly at the Green Park after his India Blue lost vital points due to rain in their Duleep Trophy tie against India Red has brought into focus the functioning of the authorities concerned.

The absence of proper cover and a wet outfield didn’t allow more play in the weather-forced draw last week.

A water-logged ground on Monday raised serious doubts over a prompt start to the game on Tuesday.

A repeat of mismanagement when India Blue take on India Green in the crucial and last Duleep Trophy league match starting here on Tuesday would tarnish the UPCA’S image further as heavy rain on the eve of the four-day match on Monday has made things difficult.

Other than the weather, the other big issue for the teams, especially India Green, would be the induction of new faces as many of their key players, including first-match centurion Karun Nair, have left to prepare for the four-day match against New Zealand A, starting at Vijayawada on September 23.

“Let the two teams give us the final list of players in the evening; only then we would be able to let you people know who’s in the team,” UPCA media manager Mohd Talib told HT on Monday.

A draw would be good enough for Raina and Co to book a place in the final against India Red as they already have three points from the draw against India Red. For the Parthiv Patel-led India Green, it will be a do-or-die match as they have no points so far.

The final is scheduled from Sept 25 -29 in Lucknow.

“We are here to win. Even under such a condition, we would like to make use of whatever opportunities we get in the game,” India Blue skipper Manoj Tiwary said at a press conference.

“Though we have three points, we won’t take things lightly,” he said.

Parthiv Patel also promised his side would go all out. “Nothing is left for us now, winning is the only option.”

SREESANTH: BCCI PLEA KOCHI: The BCCI on Monday approached the Kerala High Court against a single-bench order lifting the life ban imposed on S Sreesanth in the wake of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.

In its appeal, the BCCI said the decision to ban the pacer was taken based on the evidence against him. The single judge bench had lifted the life ban on August 7.

The court had earlier sought the BCCI’S stand on the plea by the cricketer.

INDIA VS PALESTINE KATHMANDU: The India U-16 national football team landed in