R. Ashwin praised the innovation of the Colombo groundstaff after they used fans as makeshift driers
off-spinner of Team India Ravichandran Ashwin was among the many who praised the Sri Lankan ground staff for their hard work after rain played spoilsport during the Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match between India and Pakistan on Sunday, September 10.
In a first, the ODI between India and Pakistan will be played on Reserve Day, with India set to resume at 147 for 2 from 24.1 overs. No play was possible after heavy rain interrupted play when Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were unbeaten in the middle.
Before the interruption of rain, India had put up an amazing performance, scoring 147 runs for the loss of two wickets in 24.1 overs. The Indian batting line-up showcased their prowess, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill leading the charge with quick fifties. However, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf from Pakistan managed to swing the momentum back toward their team by claiming the wickets of these two formidable batsmen in the 17th and 18th overs, respectively.
As the rain poured down, halting the play, the ground staff at the R. Premadasa Stadium resorted to extreme measures to dry the outfield. In an unusual yet innovative approach, they brought out a makeshift triple-fan setup mounted on a vehicle to aid in drying the field.
Additionally, they also used numerous sponges to soak up the excess water from the ground.