Odisha’s Barabati stadium gets Test venue status

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Sep 21:

In a good news for cricket fans across Odisha, the Barabati stadium here regained Test venue status after 21 years and can now host the longest format of the game.

A decision in this regard was taken at 87th Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai today, informed Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Ashirbad Behera.

It may be recalled here that Barabati stadium had failed to find a place in the list of new Test venues announced by BCCI in June this year.

The process of Barabati stadium getting the Test venue status got delayed after the infamous bottle-pelting incident during the T20 International match between India and South Africa last year. Angry fans had hurled water bottles towards players on the ground after the Indian team was bowled out for 92 in the T20 match on October 5, 2015. The incident had forced match officials to discontinue the match for about 27 minutes. Though the match was resumed, it had to be stopped again after two more overs for another 24 minutes. It resumed again after security forces cleared a section of the crowd that was causing the disruption and pelting water bottles.

Notably, Barabati stadium has already hosted two Test matches way back in 1987 and 1995.

The first Test match at the stadium was played between India and Sri Lanka in 1987. India had won that match by an innings and 67 runs. Kapil Dev had taken his 300th Test wicket in the match by dismissing Rumesh Ratnayake of Sri Lanka.

The second match at the venue was played between India and New Zealand in 1995 which ended in a draw.