File picture of a match between India and Pakistan veterans hosted at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna in 2005 and (above) untrimmed grass at the ground on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, April 18: Moin-ul-Haq stadium’s last tryst with history was in 1996 when Zimbabwe played Kenya in a cricket World Cup tie. Fifteen years on, it’s in a shambles. Forget international matches, it is unfit to host even school-level tournaments. The pathetic condition of the stadium reflects the cricket scenario in the state.

Built in 1969, the stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000 was considered to be second only to the majestic Eden Gardens in Calcutta. The stadium hosted Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 1993.

Legendary West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding and former India Test captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had appreciated the facilities at the ground then. Three years later, Paul Strang of Zimbabwe strangulated Kenya with a five-wicket haul and his teammate Grant Flower ruled the 22 yards of Moin-ul-Haq.

The same stadium now greets cricket aficionados with a cracked pitch, untrimmed grass and encroachments. Kadamkuan police station operates from a portion of the stadium. It houses Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion 131 too.

Illegal encroachments jostle for space with marriage parties hiring the building, housing the swimming pool at the stadium.

In February this year, the stadium was in news after CRPF jawan Yashwant Singh shot dead kabaddi player Manisha Tiwari (22). Various political organisations demanded immediate ouster of the CRPF battalion from Moin-ul-Haq.

“You will not find another international stadium in the country housing a CRPF camp, a police station and illegal encroachments. This shows the state government’s apathy in promoting sports,” said former Ranji player Amikar Dayal, who runs a cricket coaching centre on the premises of the stadium.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui, also the convener of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), the ad-hoc committee recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said: “The deplorable condition of the stadium reflects how serious the state government is in promoting the sport.”

According to sources, the stadium gets “peanuts” for development and maintenance. It is made available to various agencies for organising events to acquire funds for its upkeep. Recently, the Bihar Cycling Association organised the inauguration of the National Road Cycling Championship here.

The camp of CRPF battalion 131 at the Moin-ul-Haq stadium

When food and civil supplies minister Shyam Rajak — the chief guest at the function — was asked why a sport other than cricket was organised here, he said: “Cricket is not the only sport around. Athletics is the mother of all sports.”

Art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey told The Telegraph: “We are very serious about the upkeep and the maintenance of the stadium. Funds have been released for the electrification of the stadium and for the construction of a boundary wall around it. We are also seeking technical expertise to prepare a project for its development.”

Sources said the fate of cricket and the stadium dovetailed together after the bifurcation of the state in 2000.

“The cricket body of the state moved to Jharkhand and a number of groups emerged, each claiming to be the rightful promoter of the game in the state,” said Aditya Verma, member, Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB).

Besides BCA and CAB, the other cricket body in the state is Association of Bihar Cricket, headed by former India cricketer and current Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad. While the associations continued bickering, the neighbouring state progressed in leaps and bounds as far as cricket is concerned. The proof of its progress is embodied in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of the Indian cricket team, hailing from Jharkhand.

In Bihar, though BCA has been given associate membership by BCCI, it forbids its players from taking part in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Trophy or the Duleep Trophy. Naturally, several players are moving to Jharkhand and Bengal for their career in absence of opportunities in the state.

Cricketers in the state, however, believe that the way forward is by playing the game.

“The popularity of cricket in the state can be understood from the celebrations of Patna residents after India won the ICC World Cup this year. People came out to the streets to celebrate. This enthusiasm should be tapped,” said Mritunjay Tiwari, president, Bihar Players’ Association.

Tiwari added: “If the state government signs a contract with the BCCI and allows BCA to hold cricket matches in the stadium, funds can be generated. These can be then used for its upkeep.”