First Round Of Dr. H.D Kanga League Postponed Due To ‘Lack of Rains’

Jul 9, 2017 at 2:19 PM

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First Round Of Dr. H.D Kanga League Postponed Due To ‘Lack of Rains’

The Story:

H.D Kanga League, the vintage club competition, has been one of the key attractions of Mumbai cricket for close to 6 to 7 decades. Name after Hormasji Kanga, the former Test cricketer and BCCI vice president, the Kanga league was founded in 1948 and is held in Mumbai during the monsoon season typically between July and October. A total of 98 teams, divided into 7 divisions of 14 teams battle it out every year.

The competition is one of the most prestigious ones in the Mumbai circles and attracts nationwide coverage. The conditions are generally very tough due to the alteration caused by the rains.  To perfectly describe the unpredictable nature of the wicket, it can be said that the ball can skid, swing and spit off the pitch all in a session’s play.

In recent years, the league has been losing its prominence. But, fortunately, the charm hasn’t faded away completely, thanks to the veterans of Mumbai cricket who keep the tradition alive. Each year, this period of time is looked forward by local maidan clubs to prove their worth and advance to the higher divisions.

Postponed due to lack of rains

Kanga League (Photo Source: Cricbuzz)

Rains often postpone the matches. It is a very common phenomenon. However, in what can be said as a very first of its kind of obstacle in conducting the Kanga League, the officials have declared that the opening round of the competition has been postponed due to lack of rains.

“All the matches of Dr HD Kanga League (A to D Division) to be played on Sunday (July 9) are cancelled due to a shortage of rains, as most grounds are underprepared,” read the mail, which was signed by MCA joint secretary PV Shetty and Kanga League secretary Deepak Patil.

Mumbai typically witnesses a lot of rains but this year has been insufficient, it has been deemed by the officials. This fact has hindered with the preparation of the wickets as the groundsmen (maalis) have been left to just wait for more rains.

This sort of delay has occurred for the first time in the 69-year-old history of the Kanga League. The month of June has received decent rain (more than 500 mm) but it has been not enough for the grass to grow from the moist, newly spread layer of the soil on the pitches.

Maalis complain

“Though the wickets at Shivaji Park (in Dadar) are in good condition, those at Matunga and the Azad Maidan are underprepared because there was less rain last month. In June, the maalis and groundsmen get time to put soil on the wicket, and the rain then allows the grass to grow and bind with that soil.

Since it has hardly rained so far this year, the grass just hasn’t grown and hasn’t combined with the soil. If we use a grass-cutter, the wickets will get damaged before the start of the season. The maalis have requested us to postpone the first round so that the wickets last the duration of the season,” a MCA official explained.

A reason tough to digest

Khodadad Yazdegardi, Vice-President and the cricket secretary of Parsee Gymkhana, was highly upset after his team, Police Gymkhana, had to play Hindu Gymkhana in a friendly game on the day when it was supposed to start its campaign.

“I’m contacting the weather bureau to know when can we get ideal rain. The MCA circular to all the local clubs and gymkhanas had stated: “The Kanga League commences on July 9. Kindly see to it that the wickets are prepared. So, if a few wickets aren’t prepared by now, then those clubs’ gymkhanas should be held responsible. Why put it on ‘Act of God’?” he lamented, before adding: “If the shortage of rains is an issue, how are we playing matches from October to May? From what I’ve heard, a few members of the Kanga League Committee wanted the games to be played, but they were outvoted.”

“It’s ridiculous. Amazing actually. We used to go to the ground and wait till 2.30 PM for the sun to come out! It’s a stupid reason. It shows that they aren’t interested in conducting the tournament,” fumed ex-India captain Ajit Wadekar.

“I know that Kanga hasn’t been played in the past because of rain, but it’s a joke to say that it wasn’t played because of no rain. It’s unheard of. Good luck to Mumbai cricket” criticised former Mumbai skipper and chief selector Milind Rege.

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