Pune, Rajkot, Vizag, Dharamsala, Indore, Ranchi named India’s newest Test venues

Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) has welcomed the BCCI's decision to consider its stadium at Khandheri village near the city as an international Test match centre.

Rajkot: Pune, Rajkot, Vizag, Dharamsala, Indore, and Ranchi were named India’s newest Test venues during the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday. Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) has welcomed the BCCI’s decision to consider its stadium at Khandheri village near the city as an international Test match centre. “It’s indeed a proud moment for SCA and cricket lovers of Saurashtra that BCCI has considered Rajkot as Test centre,” SCA media manager Himanshu Shah said. “Niranjan Shah, who attended the AGM, informed SCA officials that the BCCI has considered the association’s stadium located at Khandheri as the Test match and IPL centre,” he said. SCA honorary secretary Niranjan Shah, who has also been appointed as Chairman of National Cricket Academy in today’s AGM held in Mumbai, thanked and welcomed the BCCI’s decision. READ: Shashank Manohar will replace N Srinivasdan as ICC Chairman, confirms Aditya Verma

“It is another feather in the cap of SCA. The SCA stadium is well-equipped for hosting Test matches,” Niranjan Shah was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the SCA here today. Recently, the SCA had successfully hosted the third ODI between India and South Africa amid Patel quota leaders’ threat to stage protest during the match to raise their demand for reservation in education and government job. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti leader Hardik Patel was detained by the Rajkot rural police near the stadium, when he was going to disrupt the game. READ: VIDEO: Virat Kohli wishes fans happy Diwali!

Rajkot has witnessed some enthralling ODI matches since it has started hosting international matches. Most memorable is perhaps the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka in December 2009. Virender Sehwag scored 146, Sachin Tendulkar hit 69, and MS Dhoni smashed 72 as India got to 414 for 7. In response, Tillakaratne Dilshan hammered 160, Upul Tharanga scored 67, and Kumar Sangakkara blitzed 90, but India managed to pull off a 3-run win. READ: Ravi Shastri axed from IPL Governing Council during BCCI AGM meeting

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