Odisha’s Barabati Stadium not among BCCI’s new Test venues

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Nov 9:

Odisha’s Barabati Stadium has failed to find a place among the new venues to host Test matches announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today.

Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Indore, Pune, Dharamsala and Rajkot are the new Test match venues announced by the BCCI at its 86th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai.

Pelting of water bottles by fans during the 2nd T20 International match against South Africa at Barabati Stadium after the home team’s dismal performance is being suspected as the reason behind the stadium not finding a place among the new venues announced for holding of Test matches. However, there is no official word by the BCCI on the matter.

Meanwhile, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbad Behera in his reactions to the development has said that the decision with regard to selection of Barabati Stadium as a venue for holding of Test matches has been ‘kept on hold’ since the inquiry on the report sent by the OCA on the bottle pelting incident was on.

It may be recalled here that earlier last year, a four-member team of the BCCI during a visit had expressed satisfaction over the existing infrastructure at Barabati stadium for holding of Test matches.

The team had inspected the pitch, outfield, galleries, dressing room and other infrastructure facilities at the stadium.

The team, led by Aniruddh Choudhury, had stated that they were personally satisfied with the existing set-up at the 45,000 seat capacity stadium.