New Assam Cricket Association (ACA) stadium at Barsapara in Guwahati is all set to host the maiden international match on Tuesday. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will formally inaugurate the stadium before the start of the India-Australia T20 international.
A top official of the ACA said that it will be a red letter day for the sports of the state when the new stadium will be inaugurated. Guwahati is hosting the first international cricket match after seven years.
Guwahati last hosted India-New Zealand ODI in 2010 at Nehru Stadium which was won by India.
“Though several matches have been played here in the stadium, it was never formally inaugurated. We are honoured to have our chief minister to formally inaugurate the stadium. It will be a great occasion for the state,” said the official.
The foundation stone of the stadium was laid by then chief minister Tarun Gogoi in June 2004. An area of 59 bighas of land was allotted to the ACA by the state government. The construction of the stadium was started in 2006.
On November 4 in 2012, the East Zone Senior Women’s Inter-state one-day championship match between Assam and Odisha became the first match to be played at the ground.
In the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, the ground hosted four matches. Assam against Kerala was the first first-class match. The Rs 260-crore stadium has already hosted at least 17 Ranji Trophy matches so far. The stadium with modern technologies is being regarded as one of the best in the country.
Klorophyll (India) Sports Turf Technology and Construction Private Limited has constructed the main field which is 100 percent sand based USGA perched water table profile installed with a detailed subsoil drainage network on grid pattern.
Recently, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath visited the stadium as an ICC representative expressed satisfaction.
“All the aspects including the ground, gallery, pavilion and others have been inspected. I would say Guwahati is lucky to have an infrastructure like this,” Srinath had said.
