VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam gets ready to host debut Test cricket match between India and England which is scheduled from Nov 17 at YSR ACA-VDCA stadium at PM Palem. An opening ceremony has been planned by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) to honour players and members of both the teams before the start of play. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is most likely to attend the event. Both the teams arrived here on Monday evening.
Being the first-ever Test cricket match, the ACA has planned a grand reception. The Test match will have an opening ceremony. “The teams and commentators will be honoured with mementos. A small reception will be arranged during the start of match as this is the first ever test match in the history of cricket in Vizag region,” said an ACA source. He would also watch part of the match. The officials from the district administration are making arrangements.
It is dream come true for cricket fans of the Port City and north coastal Andhra region to witness the Test match here. It was a big day when the BCCI accorded Test status to the YSR ACA-VDCA stadium on Nov 9, 2015. The stadium is not only picturesque but also one of the modern ones in the country and nestled amidst two hillocks. It had earlier hosted six One-Day Internationals (ODIs), five IPL matches and several women cricket matches since 2005.
The Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) and the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) have left no stone unturned to get the Test status by arranging all facilities mentioned by the ICC like the expanded umpires rooms, a larger media gallery, a bigger scoreboard and flood-lights for day-night matches and advanced drainage system.
Tepid response to tickets
There was a lukewarm response for the cricket match tickets on Monday. All the six centres where tickets were sold witnessed only a thin crowd. Tickets of D100 and D200 were sold at most of the centres, while those of higher denominations found a few takers. The ticket counter at CMR Central Maddilapalem received very less response in the afternoon. However, officials said that the online sales that started last week, had been good. Meanwhile, Mee-seva centres will sell tickets for the Test match from Tuesday. Daily tickets are available in the denominations of D100, D200, D300 and D500 and season tickets in D1,000 and D2,000 denomination.
Virat Kohli’s love for city
Visakhapatnam: A lot more to cheer for the cricket fans in Vizag region ahead of the Test match between India and England, scheduled to be held from November 17. Team India’s skipper Virat Kohli’s tweet about his love for Vizag, made the day of the citizens. Both India and England teams reached the city on Monday evening. Virat Kohli has tweeted: “The Sun is shining in beautiful Vizag. Lovely place. Love coming back here.” Many cricket fans and Vizagites replied with ‘welcome to our beautiful Vizag’, ‘Vizag people love you so much’, ‘Vizag always loves to see ur (Kohli’s) game’, “Vizag will bring good news”, “Repeat the last Vizag ODI match situation”, and a few others. BCCI official twitter also has posted a video saying goodbye to Rajkot, while being welcomed in Vizag. Cricket fans in large number gathered at the airport and also at Novotel hotel, when teams arrived. They cheered to their favourite players, resembling stadium ambience. The cricketers will have practice sessions at the stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday.