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Guwahati, Sept. 20: The Assam Cricket Association will have to wait another season to use its newly-built stadium at Barsapara for first class cricket.
The association’s proposal to hold the Ranji Trophy match against Tripura from November 2 to 5 at the venue suffered a major setback after the grass of three of the wickets in the seven-turf pitch was removed for replantation.
The BCCI had disapproved of the variety of grass used by Klorophyll (India) Sports Turf Technology and Construction Pvt Ltd.
“The BCCI has also suggested that we use the new venue for junior and women’s cricket before using it for first class cricket,” ACA secretary Bikash Baruah told The Telegraph here today.
“The BCCI had first disapproved of the Australian variant of grass called seashore paspalum. When we removed the grass from the central turf (which also caused damage to adjoining turf on both sides), BCCI ground and pitches committee chairman Venkat Sundaram inspected it and found the grass to be more deep-rooted, making the wickets better than other variants. We are replanting the same variant of grass now and it will take some time for the wickets to be ready for play,” Baruah said.
The BCCI recommends Bermuda Selection No 1 for pitches across India.
“Sundaram has also proposed the use of the same grass at a pitch in Delhi,” said Baruah.
“As for holding matches to make the turf worthy of first class cricket, we are going to organise BCCI women’s tournament matches and our under-13 inter-district tournament in the new stadium ground this time,” the ACA secretary added.
On completion of civil construction, Baruah said the east and west stands would be completed within the next four months.
The north and south stands have already been completed. “The pavilion and others will be completed in due course later on. We now need to make the ground worthy of playing,” he added.
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