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Lankan Groundsmen's Ingenious Make-Shift Fan To Tackle Damp Patches in Colombo

image-lmdl2ickSri Lanka ground staff resorted to a unique method (Twitter)

An exciting India-Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup 2023 at R. Premadasa Stadium was interrupted by intense rain showers. While the excitement was evident and tension in the stadium reached its peak, it was the innovative efforts by the Sri Lankan ground staff that became the cynosure of all eyes.


IND vs PAK: How Sri Lankan ground staff ensured no damp spirits

Despite a promising start to the game, the unforeseen rain interruption grabbed the limelight and put the much-anticipated game on hold. India, who were put to bat by Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, was in a dominant position, having reached 147 for the loss of two wickets in 24.1 overs.

As the rain subsided, a stubborn damp patch near the mid-wicket region refused to dry, leaving the match hanging in the balance. The Sri Lankan groundsmen unleashed their resourcefulness in an audacious bid to resume play.

Borrowing a leaf from a past game in India where hairdryers were deployed, the diligent ground staff introduced a makeshift fan, a move that was simultaneously audacious and ingenious. 

This unorthodox method, along with the traditional use of copious amounts of sawdust, created quite a stir. Unsurprisingly, images of the enormous makeshift fan went viral, making it one of the most memorable moments of the day on social media platforms.

Watch: Sri Lanka ground staff uses fans to dry wet patches

While the match, featuring top-notch performances by Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, was the central attraction, the relentless efforts of the Sri Lankan ground staff also became a huge talking point.

Despite winning the toss, Pakistan's strategy didn't pan out as Babar might have envisioned. The opening partnership between Rohit and Gill, each notching up fifties, left Pakistan in a tricky situation before rain played the spoilsport.