Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said that Jammu will soon host an international level cricket match at upcoming international level Maulana Azad Cricket stadium.
“If every good thing is happening to Jammu and Kashmir–Jammu should be hopeful of hosting an international match and why not?” Mr Thakur said in his reply to a question by UNI during media interaction at Jammu airport after attending public outreach programme at Nagrota.
As many as 38 ministers visiting Jammu and Kashmir to make people aware on developments post Abrogation of Article 370.
“We always wanted International level cricket stadium here but understand the challenges faced by the JKCA by their office bearers due to what they have done in the past and I don’t want to go into details,” said the former BCCI president.
“But, the time has gone. We have to move ahead and look at hosting International level cricket match soon in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
BCCI member Ranjit Kalra while welcoming the statement of Mr Thakur said, “it is great that the Union Minister and former BCCI head announced that Jammu is fit to host an international level cricket match especially after inauguration of Maulana Azad Stadium by the LG Girish Chandra Murmu built out of Prime Minister’s package.”
“The stadium has been refurbished upto international standards and on our request, Mr Thakur will also be visiting to the stadium,” he said and added that the Minister has agreed to the request while Jammu is eagerly waiting for hosting IPL and International level cricket match.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, Farooq Khan, who is also holding the portfolio of youth services and sports, told UNI, “we are happy and thankful to Mr Anurag Thakur that he has supported the cause of Jammu cricketers and the sporting fraternity.”
“We are delighted to know that we will be hosting an IPL and International matches,” said Mr Khan adding that it was the very purpose of having state of art cricket stadium.
“We are happy that with the help of Mr Thakur, in 2020 we will surely host matches,” he said adding that MoU is already signed with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and after January 26, the process of stadium’s pending work will be expedited.
“We are sure that Mr Thakur will take up the matter with the BCCI and consideration for hosting International cricket match in Jammu,” said the Advisor.
Chief Executive Officer, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association said, “it is a big development and achievement for J&K.”
“M A Stadium is good establishment for hosting International matches and we are looking forward for these matches and IPL,” said Mr Bukhari.
The cricket stadium has been upgraded at the cost of around Rs 50 crore under Prime Minister’s Special Package and supervised by the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC).
The Stadium will have a well established Pavilion, Standard Gymnasium, Conference Halls, Open VIP, Media and Players Zones and Galleries, and not to talk of the customary Dressing and Changing Rooms besides Match Referee Rooms, Umpires Rooms, Medical Rooms an Dope Test Rooms in a modernized fashion.
There will also be a provision of establishing around 20, 000 seats in the entire stadium, including VIP galleries in the pavilion.