A day-night match in India, especially at this time of year, usually means dew, delays and the possibility of fines and censure. That, after all is what happened to Sourav Ganguly twice last season. And the threat remains, says ICC match referee Alan Hurst. Aware of the implications of the situation, Hurst held a meeting with Dravid and Atapattu this morning and decided to use the super-sopper during the break between innings. ‘‘That will bring in equilibrium for the team bowling second and make the match an even contest’’, he told The Indian Express. Yet the former Australian fast bowler minced few words in saying that there would be no leniency in judging the over rate of the team bowling second. ‘‘That’s something the teams have to keep in mind’’, he said. ‘‘The ICC has certain rules and my job is to make sure those rules are followed. It’s going to be difficult, especially in high-scoring games and with the dew, but that’s why we have decided to drag the rope in the outfield to take away the dew and activate the super-sopper too.’’ Given Mohali’s traditional fast-paced wicket, and extra time used by the quick bowlers, both skippers have a job on their hands. Dravid, who stepped in for Ganguly after the latter’s latest transgression during the India-Pakistan series, had said at the time that it’s a collective effort to get their overs in time and skipper can’t be singled out for punishment. He’ll be hoping that tomorrow his boys deliver.
