BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday put up a stout defence of Kanpur as a Test centre, saying the venue can’t be denied long-foprmat games. Persistent rain and an outdated drainage system have hampered the ongoing Test, where only 35 overs could be bowled across the first three days.

“This ground is around 80 years old. It’s a heritage ground and was a permanent Test centre. For the first time in 80 years it has rained so much that we’re unable  to play for two days. But history suggests that no match has been abandoned here. When this stadium was built, there was no technology, now there is,” he said.