Come October and cheerleaders, Ahmedabad will witness the legendary cricketers and cent percent entertainment.
AHMEDABAD: Come October and cheerleaders, Ahmedabad will witness the legendary cricketers and cent percent entertainment. In an agreement signed for a 10-year tenure on Wednesday between Indian Cricket League (ICL) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Sardar Patel Stadium, Navarangpura will host the ICL 20-20 matches.
“Initially, we will spend Rs 10 crore for the upgradation of the stadium which will include Rs 4 crore worth of floodlights apart from developing the outfield, pitch, dressing room, stands and common areas. In phases, the total investment will go up to Rs30 crore,” said business head, ICL, Himanshu Mody. Stadium will be ready for the
October championship, he added.
The stadium located in heart of the city will also witness a few ICL camps. “Though we will be using the stadium for 3-4 months during the championship but organizing ICL camps is also in pipeline,” Kiran More, executive board member said. ICL will spend more than Rs10 crore for facelift of the stadium under the watchful eyes of More.
“It will have floodlights and pitch of international standards. South African Phil Ruffel will prepare the pitch,” informed More, who gathered special praise from AMC commissioner IP Gautam and Mody. Ahmedabad mayor Kanaji Thakore was also present at the occasion.
Meanwhile, ICL chairman Kapil Dev recalled his historical union with the ground in 1970s. “I still remember it was Dilip Sardesai benefit match between India and Pakistan. Here I got my first chance to play with Sunil Gavaskar, BS Bedi and Prasanna among others,” he said.
Kapil Dev’s association with the city is old. The Haryana Hurricane broke Richard Haddle’s Test wickets world record here. “The new venture will provide a platform to many talented young cricketers from Gujarat,” he said.
It is the first stadium of Ahmedabad to host any international match. In 1981, India captained by Sunil Gavaskar faced England. The ground didn’t turn out to be lucky for the hosts - they lost by five wickets - but it was enough to announce arrival of Ahmedabad on international cricket map.
Heart of former all-rounder sunk when asked about the ICL’s recognition. The former India captain ICL Kapil Dev urged BCCI to put aside the ideological differences. The legendary cricketer was in the city to sign the agreement with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the Sardar Patel stadium, Navarangpura on Wednesday.
“Don’t treat us like untouchables. ICL is for all those who have the potential and need an opportunity to exhibit their hidden talent in smaller cities. It is for everybody and not just cricketers from big cities,” Kapil
Dev said.
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