The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has emerged because the front-runner to host the high-profile India vs Pakistan match within the ICC 50-over World Cup scheduled for October-November, the primary match between the 2 arch-rivals on Indian soil since 2016.
The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) has determined to host the high-voltage match on the Ahmedabad stadium in anticipation of numerous followers who’re anticipated to journey to India from overseas for the fixture, it’s learnt. With a seating capability of 1 lakh, the Narendra Modi Stadium is the nation’s largest.
The BCCI can be asserting the World Cup schedule at a grand launch as soon as the Indian Premier League, at present underway, is over, it’s learnt.
If the whole lot 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 apply fixtures.
Of those venues, nevertheless, solely seven will host India’s league matches. Ahmedabad may very well be the one venue the place India play two matches, offered the group makes it to the ultimate.
It’s learnt that Pakistan might find yourself taking part in most of their matches in Chennai and Bengaluru as a result of safety causes. Kolkata’s Eden Gardens can be being thought-about as a venue. Equally, Bangladesh might additionally play most of their matches in Kolkata and Guwahati as it could scale back 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 within the nation’s southern components earlier than the primary week of November.
The Indian Specific has learnt that the BCCI additionally consulted with the Indian group administration and sought its preferences for the matches, other than the one with Pakistan.
The Indian group, sources mentioned, requested the BCCI to allot fixtures towards Australia, England, New Zealannd and South Africa to venues that help spinners. It advised the board that it prefers gradual pitches because it needs to maximise the so-called house benefit, a development it has been following over the previous few years.
“The Indian group has carried out nicely on gradual tracks up to now few years at house. So the group administration had requested that each time the schedule is being ready the Indian group ought to face prime groups on gradual pitches. They wished to have a house benefit,” a supply within the BCCI mentioned.
Sources mentioned the state models have already given their want record to the BCCI, however a name on allotment of the matches to venues could be taken solely by the BCCI. However they added there’s a robust probability of Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium internet hosting India’s match towards Australia, whereas video games towards New Zealand, England, South Africa can be performed in different facilities the place pitches can be gradual.
The BCCI has earmarked greater than Rs 500 crore to improve stadiums throughout the nation earlier than the 50-over World Cup. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had earlier acknowledged that the board can be upgrading its infrastructure, with clear bathrooms, easy accessibility and clear seats the highest priorities after latest criticism over the situation of stadiums.
“All current infrastructure within the nation can be upgraded earlier than the World Cup. Evaluation of the stadium has been accomplished to have interaction with a wider cohort of followers within the IPL and in the course of the World Cup. So upgrading infrastructure can be accomplished throughout this era,” Shah mentioned.