The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has emerged as a result of the front-runner to host the high-profile India vs Pakistan match inside the ICC 50-over World Cup scheduled for October-November, the first match between the two arch-rivals on Indian soil since 2016.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to host the high-voltage match on the Ahmedabad stadium in anticipation of numerous followers who’re anticipated to journey to India from abroad for the fixture, it is learnt. With a seating functionality of 1 lakh, the Narendra Modi Stadium is the nation’s largest.
The BCCI will most likely be asserting the World Cup schedule at a grand launch as quickly because the Indian Premier League, presently underway, is over, it is learnt.
If each half goes as per schedule, the 50-over World Cup will kick off from October 5, with Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Indore, Bengaluru and Dharamshala being short-listed as venues, even for comply with fixtures.
Of these venues, nonetheless, solely seven will host India’s league matches. Ahmedabad might probably be the one venue the place India play two matches, supplied the workforce makes it to the final word.
It is learnt that Pakistan would possibly end up having fun with most of their matches in Chennai and Bengaluru on account of security causes. Kolkata’s Eden Gardens may also be being thought-about as a venue. Similarly, Bangladesh would possibly moreover play most of their matches in Kolkata and Guwahati as it can reduce the journey distance for followers from the neighbouring nation.
With October-November being the monsoon season, the BCCI is planning to wrap up the matches inside the nation’s southern parts sooner than the first week of November.
The Indian Express has learnt that the BCCI moreover consulted with the Indian workforce administration and sought its preferences for the matches, aside from the one with Pakistan.
The Indian workforce, sources talked about, requested the BCCI to allot fixtures in opposition to Australia, England, New Zealannd and South Africa to venues that assist spinners. It suggested the board that it prefers sluggish pitches as a result of it must maximise the so-called home profit, a growth it has been following over the last few years.
“The Indian team has performed well on slow tracks in the past few years at home. So the team management had requested that whenever the schedule is being prepared the Indian team should face top teams on slow pitches. They wanted to have a home advantage,” a provide inside the BCCI talked about.
Sources talked about the state objects have already given their need itemizing to the BCCI, nevertheless a reputation on allotment of the matches to venues might be taken solely by the BCCI. But they added there’s a sturdy chance of Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium web internet hosting India’s match in opposition to Australia, whereas video video games in opposition to New Zealand, England, South Africa will most likely be carried out in numerous services the place pitches will most likely be sluggish.
The BCCI has earmarked higher than Rs 500 crore to enhance stadiums all through the nation sooner than the 50-over World Cup. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had earlier stated that the board will most likely be upgrading its infrastructure, with clear bogs, fast entry and clear seats the very best priorities after newest criticism over the state of affairs of stadiums.
“All existing infrastructure in the country will be upgraded before the World Cup. Assessment of the stadium has been done to engage with a wider cohort of fans in the IPL and during the World Cup. So upgrading infrastructure will be done during this period,” Shah talked about.
