Greater Noida Sports Complex gets international venue status

Greater Noida Sports Complex ground was approved by the ICC to host associate-level matches from 2015 December and has been upgraded to international status, after developing to a satisfactory extent. An inspection team came last week and gave their nod after watching all the facilities. 

The stadium hosted the first-ever pink ball first-class match of the country when the Duleep Trophy 2016-17 was played in the day-night format for the first time. It has also been the home ground of the Afghanistan team and hosted the Intercontinental Cup game between Afghanistan and Namibia in April this year.

Afghanistan will host Ireland in March 2017 for a full series here, which will involve a four-day Intercontinental Cup game, five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals.

BCCI president Anurag Thakur declared the news after the ICC’s approval and in a press release said, “I’m pleased to announce that the SVSP Cricket Stadium, Greater Noida is now fully compliant to host international matches with full members. BCCI had organized Duleep Trophy for the first time in the day-night format using the pink ball from August 23 to September 14, 2016, that tested the venue’s infrastructure and facility. The Afghanistan national team had also used the venue for their home games earlier this year. I am confident that this approval will inspire the authorities to take this stadium to next level.”