Expert opinion: Mumbai architect Hamal Prabhu, state sports minister Gautam Roy, ACA secretary Bikash Baruah, BCCI curator Daljit Singh and others inspect the construction of Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, July 31: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and the builders have decided to make “slight modifications” in the design of the cricket stadium being built in Barsapara ground here.

In a meeting of the ACA technical body with the architect Sashi Prabhu and Associates, and builder Lloyd Insulations Ltd here on Wednesday, it was decided to shift the amenities and structures originally designed for the south stand to the north in compliance with the ICC and BCCI norms.

In the new design, the north stand comprises the pavilion and clubhouse so that the practice wickets and indoor practice pitch could be kept close to the pavilion. The shifting has been agreed upon on the basis of suggestions made by the BCCI pitch and ground committee chairman, Daljit Singh, who visited the proposed cricket stadium recently.

“There will be few changes in the design and the architect and the builder have agreed to do so. It is always better to develop the infrastructure in compliance with ICC and BCCI norms in order to avoid any hassles in the future,” ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said.

“The south stand will have more amenities than prescribed by the ICC and the BCCI to make the stadium one of the most modern ones in the country,” the ACA secretary added.

The construction of the south stand has already started and will continue uninterrupted.

Asked why the ICC and BCCI norms had not been followed while designing the stadium originally, Baruah said the ICC guidelines to have the practice and indoor wickets closer to the pavilion were not there earlier.

“The modifications are being made according to the latest ICC guidelines that Daljit Singh has suggested. Besides, these guidelines are not mandatory, but we have decided to comply with his suggestions in order to avoid any future problems. The shifting of the stands was necessitated in order to make more room for the indoor pitch and practice wickets,” Baruah said.

Singh has also suggested that the playing arena be kept at 80 yards in radius, as in the original design

The ACA has also decided to engage Singh for the preparation of the pitches in the new stadium right from the beginning.

The BCCI expert suggested that the ACA should start laying the wicket, but the ACA has been waiting for some portion of the construction to be completed so that the newly-laid wickets do not get damaged.

Surge System India Ltd (also known as Toro & Co) of Chennai has been employed to build the drainage system of the stadium under the supervision of BCCI pitch and ground committee member P.R. Viswanathan.