KANPUR: The Green Park Stadium, one of India’s earliest Test centres, may struggle to find another international fixture in the foreseeable future, TOI has learnt. As it stands, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) is unsure of the hosting capabilities of the venue.
According to sources, the board has been made aware of the reluctance of senior India players to play at the venue.With the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow having state-of-the art facilities and a new international stadium expected to come up in Varanasi next year, it will be tough for Green Park to get another international match to host.
“There were concerns raised by Indian team management about the venue. They prefer to play in Lucknow, which has better facilities. This Test match was awarded to Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) as per rotation and since Green Park has been declared a Test centre by BCCI, the association decided to host the match in Kanpur,” a BCCI source said.
The stadium wears an old-world look. For this Test between India and Bangladesh, civic authorities have deemed one of the stands unsafe to seat its full capacity. There are structural problems with one of the floodlight towers. Hygiene and maintenance of the blocks are questionable.
“The stadium in Varanasi should be ready well before the T20 World Cup in India in 2026. This stadium needs an overhaul and better management. The BCCI can’t really say when the next international match will be played here,” source said.
Families of martyrs invited
Meanwhile, the UPCA authorities are trying their best to bring in as many people as possible for the Test. In a one-of-kind initiative, the UPCA has decided to invite families of martyred soldiers to the match and plant a sapling in honour of each martyred soldier.
“We have asked the authorities to give us a list of martyred soldiers around Kanpur and we have extended our invitation to their families. Planting a sapling in their name is a part of our go-green initiative. We are also getting 3000 children in per day for the first three days of the Test,” venue director Sanjay Kapoor said on Thursday.