8:36 AM
Editor
Wankhede Stadium is gearing up to host its first 50-over match in three years, after completion of the massive renovation that it went through.
Incidentally, this 50-over game coming on Monday happens to be a World Cup fixture and not a practice match – to be played between New Zealand and Canada. It will be a good indication of how the stadium is placed to host another World Cup match on March 18 and the grand final, scheduled for April 2.
The only practice matches played at Wankhede after the venue was done up again where the semifinal and final of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Twenty20 tournament that was held last month. The last One-day International played here was in October 2007 between India and Australia.
MCA vice-president Dilip Vengsarkar has already voiced his opinion about the pitch, praising curator Sudhir Naik's work. Naik, in turn, is convinced that the Wankhede wicket will stay true to its reputation.
These are men who have been in charge of Wankhede's well being for years and their words should come as a respite for scores of Mumbai fans who're still clueless of what the current state of their home venue is.
The total capacity of the stadium is 33,000 but it is unlikely that the Wankhede will see a huge turnout for Monday's game given the teams that are lined up.
The year 2010 saw MCA undergo a great deal of 'firefighting' while trying to meet the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The deadlines were twice extended before the ICC gave its final go-ahead. The stadium also received a fire-safety approval from the relevant authorities recently.
Without tinkering the original pitch – the one prepared by Naik and certainly one of the best available in India – the MCA went ahead relaying the outfield, mostly outside the 30-yard circle; the stands have been refurbished with comfortable bucket seats; the dressing rooms have been redone; sophisticated corporate boxes are in place and the overall look of the stadium is flashier than ever. The few areas of concern – and important ones at that – are how the outfield will react, especially because of the grass carpets that have been laid recently and haven't had much time for the roots to catch up. The wicket hasn't received the kind of pounding it should have, except for two T20 games and use of bowling machines. The shadow of the stands on the west side of the stadium is so long that it falls right on the pitch.
It is the successful hosting of the New Zealand-Canada one-dayer that will be important in quelling these fears and as much as the MCA would like to believe that everything is in place, even they wouldn't deny that they're eager to see this off well.
Incidentally, this 50-over game coming on Monday happens to be a World Cup fixture and not a practice match – to be played between New Zealand and Canada. It will be a good indication of how the stadium is placed to host another World Cup match on March 18 and the grand final, scheduled for April 2.
The only practice matches played at Wankhede after the venue was done up again where the semifinal and final of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Twenty20 tournament that was held last month. The last One-day International played here was in October 2007 between India and Australia.
MCA vice-president Dilip Vengsarkar has already voiced his opinion about the pitch, praising curator Sudhir Naik's work. Naik, in turn, is convinced that the Wankhede wicket will stay true to its reputation.
These are men who have been in charge of Wankhede's well being for years and their words should come as a respite for scores of Mumbai fans who're still clueless of what the current state of their home venue is.
The total capacity of the stadium is 33,000 but it is unlikely that the Wankhede will see a huge turnout for Monday's game given the teams that are lined up.
The year 2010 saw MCA undergo a great deal of 'firefighting' while trying to meet the deadline set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The deadlines were twice extended before the ICC gave its final go-ahead. The stadium also received a fire-safety approval from the relevant authorities recently.
Without tinkering the original pitch – the one prepared by Naik and certainly one of the best available in India – the MCA went ahead relaying the outfield, mostly outside the 30-yard circle; the stands have been refurbished with comfortable bucket seats; the dressing rooms have been redone; sophisticated corporate boxes are in place and the overall look of the stadium is flashier than ever. The few areas of concern – and important ones at that – are how the outfield will react, especially because of the grass carpets that have been laid recently and haven't had much time for the roots to catch up. The wicket hasn't received the kind of pounding it should have, except for two T20 games and use of bowling machines. The shadow of the stands on the west side of the stadium is so long that it falls right on the pitch.
It is the successful hosting of the New Zealand-Canada one-dayer that will be important in quelling these fears and as much as the MCA would like to believe that everything is in place, even they wouldn't deny that they're eager to see this off well.
0 comments:
Post a Comment