Cuttack, Feb 6: The Odisha Cricket Association is aiming to grab a major chunk of international matches and tournaments after winning accolades for successfully hosting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

However, the local cricket authority’s priority is to ensure that Barabati once again gets the opportunity to host Test matches, which last happened 17 years ago.

Senior officials of the association have discussed the issue with International Cricket Council CEO David Richardson, who was in the city during the league stages of the Women’s World Cup.

Barabati has hosted two Test matches after it became an international venue in 1982. The first Test was played in 1987 between India and Sri Lanka, and the second was in 1995-96 between India and New Zealand.

After that, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) did not get a chance to host Test matches because of lack of adequate accommodation facilities in the city.

Official sources said Barabati almost lost its Test status because it was practically impossible for team players to travel 35 kilometre between Cuttack, the venue of the matches, and Bhubaneswar, where they would put up, for five consecutive days.

“Our first priority is to ensure that Barabati becomes a Test centre once again. We have discussed the issue with ICC CEO David Richardson, who has assured us of full cooperation,” said OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera.

Behera said that with the presence of star hotels in Cuttack and multilevel facilities for players and support staff, hosting a Test match would hardly be an issue now.

He also highlighted the OCA’s achievement of making arrangements to host the Pakistan team for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on short notice.

Pakistan’s participation was in doubt following recent tension on the Indo-Pak border.