In a bid to reduce the terror of ‘food-grabbing monkeys’ from the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has hired Langurs and their handlers.

Kanpur Cricket Association (KCA) chairman Sanjay Kapoor, also the venue director for the match, said that the broadcast camera persons’ snacks and drinks will be at risk as the monkeys have a habit of targeting them. “To avoid the terror of monkeys, we have langurs (long-tailed leaf monkeys) to take care of them,” Kapoor was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Notably, it is not the first time that the local cricket association has hired the services of langurs as the same process has been followed in international matches earlier.

Moreover, a black cloth is used on either side of the raised stand behind the boundary rope to reduce the chances of monkeys getting a chance to grab their food.

The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) had deemed the ‘Balcony C’ of the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur to be dangerous and it was closed on Day 1 of the match.

The government officials observed that the structure might not be able to take the entire load of the stand and ordered to open less than half the balcony capacity for the Test match.

“PWD and Harcourt Butler Technical University also conducted their inspection three days before the match and found that some seats in C block cannot be used for spectators as it is not safe. About 1750 seats of the upper block are still available for spectators,” Kapoor told the media on the eve of the match.