In December 2023, during a T20I match between India and South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Indian cricketer Rinku Singh hit a powerful six off Aiden Markram’s bowling, shattering a glass panel in the media box.
As of January 2025, the damaged panel remains unrepaired due to budget constraints faced by the stadium’s management. Terrence, the venue official overseeing maintenance, explained that the repair requires heavy machinery like cranes, which cannot be deployed during ongoing games. He emphasized that, given the limited budget, priority has been given to more pressing repairs, such as fixing the stadium’s roof, which suffered significant damage during storms in August.
The glass in question is made of safety glass, designed to crack internally upon impact without collapsing entirely, ensuring spectator safety. Replacing such glass is costly and logistically challenging, further contributing to the delay in repairs. Despite the visible damage, the panel does not pose an immediate danger, leading the management to defer its replacement in favor of addressing more critical maintenance issues within their financial limitations.
