A day before ACA-Barsapara Stadium hosts its first international game, officials seemed excited as they oversaw the finishing touches.
The general query of the travelling media regarding general facilities, however, met some confused answers.
Australia cricket captain David Warner, though, sounded satisfied. “The facilities look fantastic. It is the first match at this cricket stadium. Hopefully, we can make it special for ourselves,” he said.
What Warner probably doesn’t know is that the Barsapara Cricket Stadium last year saw Himachal Pradesh getting out for 36 against Hyderabad during a Ranji Trophy match. It was the fourth lowest total in the premier domestic competition since 2000.
Mukut Kalita, chief curator of Barsapara stadium, says the result was because of poor application and much has changed after that. “It was the batsmen’s fault. They failed to apply themselves,” he said.
‘Memorable beginning’
Kalita expects a high-scoring game on Tuesday. “We are expecting a good score. This is the first match here and we want to make it memorable. Spinners will also get assistance,” he said.
It rained in Barsapara on Monday, hampering the Indian team’s practice session, but Kalita insisted that the drainage facility is state of the art and there will be no problem during the match.
{{/usCountry}}It rained in Barsapara on Monday, hampering the Indian team’s practice session, but Kalita insisted that the drainage facility is state of the art and there will be no problem during the match.
{{/usCountry}}“The sand content in the soil is high. Also, drainage is very good. We don’t need to cover the full ground in case of rain,” he said.
He added that there are two super-soppers and 20 groundsmen.
Tuesday’s match will be the first time in seven years that Assam will be hosting an international cricket match. The last time it hosted a match was back in 2010, when India beat New Zealand in an ODI. That match was played at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.