The Assam Cricket Association (ACA), IMG and Rajasthan Royals on Friday started a joint initiative to host two IPL matches at Barsapara stadium this season.
An IMG team, led by its vice-president and marketing head Catherine Simpson, and Royals officials, led by chief operating officer Jake Lush McCrum, inspected ACA Stadium here on Friday and held discussion with the association regarding the roles to be played by the stakeholders during the two matches.
Although the ACA had asked for three matches, they were awarded two. The dates and teams involved are yet to be finalised.
“We started work for hosting the matches from today. We had a thorough discussion about what needs to be done by whom and we will proceed accordingly. IMG and Rajasthan Royals will set up their operational offices here from March first week,” ACA secretary Devajit Saikia told The Telegraph.
The ACA had got a shot in the arm on its organisational capabilities following the January 5 abandoned T20 between Indian and Sri Lanka as match referee David Boon reported it was called off because of “adverse condition of ground and wicket due to heavy rain”.
Saikia also said the ACA had applied to become a party in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by some cricketers and fans in Rajasthan High Court against hosting of two matches in Guwahati. “Since the PIL involves the two matches we are supposed to host, we have moved the court to include us as one of the parties in the hearings,” he said. The PIL will be heard on February 13.
Royals, the 2008 IPL champions, have opted for shifting its home base to Guwahati reportedly dissatisfied by the infrastructure support at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The petitioners moved the court citing it as “disrespect towards the state”.
The ACA, that is eyeing a Test centre status for its stadium, had faced criticism from fans over abandonment of the January 5 match for using hot air blower and iron, among others, to dry a wet patch on the turf.
Earlier, a T20 international between India and Australia, an ODI between India and West Indies and three T20 internationals between India and England women teams were held at the stadium.
