Barabati Stadium likely to stage Test match in 2015

Barabati Stadium, the pride of Odisha, is likely to stage a Test match next year. Though BCCI president N Srinivasan stopped just short of confirming restoration of Test status to lone international cricket venue of the state, Odisha Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal and secretary Asirbad Behera expressed full confidence to receive the official confirmation within two months.
``A three-member BCCI committee has submitted a favourable report after inspecting the facilities available in Barabati Stadium. The board will announce its decision in due procedure,`` said Srinivasan in a press conference after the BCCI`s Working Committee meeting at Hotel Mayfair today.
But according to OCA secretary Mr Behera Barabati has fulfilled all the criteria to get back the Test status the picturesque stadium is likely to stage a Test match in 2015.
For the record, Barabati Stadium lost its Test status after hosting two matches within a span of eight years. In the first Test, held in January 1987, India crushed Sri Lanka by an innings and 67 runs. The other Test between India and New Zealand ended in a watery draw in November 1995 after play in the second and third day was completely washed out.
According to the OCA secretary, Cuttack as a Test venue was earlier lacking two things _ star hotel and airport. But in the meantime, OCA has sorted out the problems by developing top-class accommodation facility inside the stadium. ``Henceforth all officials of an international match will be accommodated in the stadium. However, players will continue to stay at Bhubaneswar and travel by road to play at Cuttack,`` he stated.
Mr Behera dispelled the belief that travelling between twin cities was a major inconvenience for players. ``Now it takes only 45 minutes, the same as big cities.The travel time will be reduced further with the commissioning of a new bridge over river Kathajodi,`` he claimed.
IPL MATCHES IN CUTTACK: With BCCI undecided about alternate venues for the seventh edition of Indian Premier League, Barabati Stadium emerged as possible venue for a few matches. According to BCCI president N Srinivasan, the board has decided to wait for the announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha polls before finalizing the venues.
The decision to delay the shortlisting of venues, whether in India or foreign countries, was taken in the Working Committee meeting of the BCCI, held here for the first time.
``Since the elections are coinciding with the IPL, the Union Government has expressed its inability to provide security cover. But from business point of view, the franchisees are opposing the shifting of the IPL to other countries even though the cricket boards of South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh have expressed interest to stage the matches,`` BCCI president N Srinivasan said after the meeting.
``Under the circumstances, the BCCI is planning to conduct a part of the IPL-VII abroad and the rest in India. However, a final decision will be taken after the announcement of the dates for the general elections,`` he added.
IPL Governing Council chairman Ranjib Biswal, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, secretary Sanjay Patel, joint-secretary Anurag Thakur, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and other Working Committee members were present in the meeting. OCA secretary Asirbad Behera attended the meeting as special invitee.
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PHOTO: BCCI president N Srinivasan (Centre), secretary Sanjay Patel (Right) and IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on February 28, 2014.