What should have been a routine morning of cricket at the Jadavpur University ground in Salt Lake turned unexpectedly messy. A First Division T20 match between Kolkata Police and Kolkata Port Trust, part of the JC Mukherjee tournament, was delayed when the pitch was found too wet for play, an issue that quickly led to renewed criticism of Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee.
The match was meant to start at 9 a.m., with the toss set for half an hour earlier. But when officials inspected the pitch, they discovered it was damp and soft, making it impossible to begin on time. After repeated checks and nearly two hours of waiting, play finally got underway at 11:10 a.m. Kolkata Police made the most of the shortened seven-over contest, posting 85 for 3 and later defending it comfortably as Port Trust fell short at 60 for 4.
Local reports suggested that the ground staff simply didn’t know a match was scheduled for that morning. Because of this confusion, they had watered the pitch the previous evening, leaving the surface unprepared. The incident has raised concerns about how such a mistake could happen in a tournament that features the top division of CAB cricket.
Adding to the confusion, another match — East Bengal vs Arian was also scheduled at the same venue later in the day. This only intensified the questions being asked around the Maidan, with many wondering how communication had broken down so severely.
Sujan Mukherjee has come under pressure once more, as many feel the situation could have been avoided with better oversight. Reports indicate that he had requested the JC Mukherjee matches be shifted away from the Jadavpur ground to help prepare the venue for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. While one match scheduled for November 24 was indeed moved to Tala Park, he and his assistant appear to have overlooked the fixture on November 23.
When asked about the incident, Sujan Mukherjee described it as a misunderstanding. He suggested that the umpires could have begun the match earlier if they felt the wicket was unsuitable, noting that a team still managed to score freely once play began. He also emphasised that preparing pitches for the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament remains his priority and assured that those surfaces would be ready in time.
What remains, however, is a lingering sense of frustration. For players and officials who depend on smooth coordination, Sunday’s mix-up at Jadavpur has become a reminder of how quickly things can unravel when communication falters.
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