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Odisha Cricket Association: Barabati Stadium at Cuttack to regain Test status soon

OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said Barabati cricket stadium would get Test status within two-three months.

Asirbad Behera said the Barbati cricket stadium will hold matches after getting the Test status from the Board of Cricket Control in India © Getty Images
Asirbad Behera said the Barbati cricket stadium will hold matches after getting the Test status from the Board of Cricket Control in India © Getty Images

Bhubaneswar: Barabati stadium in Cuttack would get back Test status to host the longest format of cricket within two-three months, said Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbad Behera on Monday. “Barabati would get Test status within two-three months. The process got delayed after the bottle throwing incident in the stadium (during a Twenty20 International against South Africa in October, 2015),” said the OCA secretary. “Now, the issue is over and we are quite confident that Barabati stadium will get Test status.” Cuttack had previously hosted two Tests since becoming an international venue in 1982. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs South Africa, Live Score, 2nd T20I match, India vs South Africa 2015

He also said the stadium will hold matches after getting the Test status from the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI). Spectators had hurled water bottles at players during the Twenty20 International match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium on October 5, 2015. The Indian team was bowled out for 92 in the T20 match. READ: Yuvraj Singh hits out at Barabati crowd for disrupting India vs South Africa 2015, 2nd T20I at Cuttack

“The BCCI has expressed satisfaction over OCA’s report on the incident. Besides, the BCCI has advised the OCA regarding some measures to be taken in future to avoid such untoward situation,” said Behera. He said bottles will not be allowed inside galleries in future matches. There are strict norms and guidelines which are to met for any cricket stadium to hold Test matches. Since Barbati cricket stadium failed to meet those guidelines, its Test status was taken after India’s batting debacle in a T20I played last year. It was largely attributed to the poor pitch which was very difficult to bat on.

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