(Image Source: TOI)
[Saba Sports News] During the Elite Group A match between Maharashtra and Jharkhand in Pune, play was unexpectedly halted due to a tornado that damaged the sightscreen. The match experienced a near 30-minute pause as the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) officials worked quickly to fix the sight screen.
The incident unfolded during the innings break. Jharkhand had just completed their first innings and were gearing up for their bowling session when the sightscreen at the Hill End gave way, delaying the game’s resumption. The players faced an extended break until conditions returned to normal.
This disruption occurred around 1 pm on the second day’s second session. MCA officials attributed the damage to the sight screen’s frame to heavy rains that had hit the city a few days prior, which were so severe that teams couldn’t practice before the match.
An MCA official commented on the challenges posed by such natural events, saying, “When a tornado of such magnitude hits the ground, preventing damage is difficult. The sight screen was partly damaged but was quickly repaired with minimal delay.”
Ajinkya Joshi, the COO of MCA, told Cricbuzz, “The cyclonic winds caused the sight screen to collapse, but we managed to fix it in 15 minutes.”
This incident occurred just as Jharkhand was dismissed for 403. Maharashtra, in response, had a promising start, reaching 149 for one by the end of the second day.
The international stadium in Gahunje, on Pune’s outskirts, has been a notable cricket venue. It has hosted two Tests, four T20Is, 12 ODIs, including five World Cup matches, and 51 IPL games since its inception in 2012.