'Assam Cricket Association' Trolled after Attempts to Dry Barsapara Stadium Pitch with Hairdryers, Steam Irons & Vacuum Cleaners

Guwahati, January 6, 2019:

After news had emerged that the first T-20 cricket tie between India and Sri Lanka that was scheduled to be held at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, would not be held due to wet patches on the pitch, cricket lovers were greeted to an amusing sight.

Amid the frustration over the delay, spectators were greeted to the sight of pitch personnel using hairdryers, steam irons and even vacuum cleaners in a desperate bid to begin the match.

The match was expected to bring some much-needed relief and entertainment in Assam, as the state has been on the burn over the contentious amendment of the Citizenship Act since it was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 10.

In a picture that has now gone viral, the pitch personnel can be seen attempting to dry the pitch with hairdryers, while Indian team skipper Virat Kohli and opener Shikhar Dhawan's faces wore a bemused look.

In relation to this, the official Twitter handle of ESPNcricinfo sent out an amusing tweet, which read: "We've seen hairdryers, steam irons and vacuum cleaners used on the pitch at Guwahati. What is the strangest item you have used on seen used to dry a cricket field?"

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Twitterati wasted no time in trolling the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for this evidently ineffectual way of dealing with the frustrating situation. "The ground staff will have to prove their citizenship. The techniques used to dry the ground are out of this world", wrote one user, while another said, "Wow, all that money in the BCCI's coffers, and they have problems with wet cricket pitches delaying matches. Who knew that was even possible eh?"

Another user was quick to point out that this state-of-affairs has been brought on by the appointment of businessmen as the heads of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA). "When a businessman made President of Cricket Association then these things bound to happen. - Ramen Dutta, ACA President, is close to CM Sarbananda Sonowal - Debajit Saikia, ACA Secretary, is known for his closeness with Himanta Biswa Sarma (as per the news)", read a tweet reply by 'Voice of Assam', a popular Twitter account.

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