Sydney Stadium

Jamshedpur, Nov. 9: Chaibasa would soon turn into a cricket centre to reckon with.

With the craze for willow war witnessing an upswing in the West Singhbhum district, the idea of upgrading the Birsa Munda Cricket Stadium at Chaibasa struck the movers and shakers of the game.

Besides new galleries, better pitches, lush green outfield and enhanced boundaries are sure to make the stadium an ideal venue for absorbing Ranji ties.

With two new galleries on the either side of the SR Rungta Pavilion (the only place where spectators can seat), the number of seats would swell to 3,000 from 375 at present. The foundation stone of the new galleries, which would be able to accommodate 1,500 spectators, was laid last month.

Funded by local businessmen, the galleries would come up at an estimated cost of Rs 40 lakh, said Ashim Kumar Singh, the secretary of the West Singhbhum District Cricket Association (WSDCA).

Plans are afoot to increase the boundaries of the ground using the vacant space surrounding the playing arena. The WSDCA, with the district authorities, is also making efforts to acquire about 27 yards of land at the adjoining Singhbhum Sports Association (SSA) ground.

“Talks are on with the SSA. The additional land will increase the playing arena and we will be able to host under-19 and Ranji matches if the boundary of the ground is increased,” Singh said.

The state government had allocated Rs 52 lakh to the district administration in 2002 for upgrading the Birsa Munda Stadium. The JSCA has spent Rs 2.40 lakh for laying four turf wickets and sowing grass. It has also proposed two under-16 matches of the Jharkhand team at Chaibasa — one against Sikkim and the other with Manipur.

The facilities available at the three-storeyed pavilion inaugurated in October last year include dressing rooms, toilets and an office. The top floor is also used for accommodating spectators.