JOIN USAlthough the event is scheduled the next season, the ball was set rolling when the Sahara group head Subrata Roy visited the city a few days back and inspected the under construction venue of International Cricket Centre of Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), at Gahunj across Mumbai-Pune express highway.
At a felicitation accorded to Roy by MCA, he said, “We are searching for a suitable name for the team and I’m sure we will come up with a good one. Suggestions are welcome”.
Elated at the landmark development, the MCA President Ajay Shirke said that it would provide a big boost to cricket in Pune and Maharshtra.
The cricket stadium being built by MCA at a cost of Rs 275 crore is expected to be ready to host the IPL matches here by February 2011 and will have as many as 17 wickets to play the game. “On completion of the first phase in February next year, the stadium will have a capacity of 47,000 seats which will be further expanded up to 57,000,” Shirke said.
An eight-member team from Sahara which viewed a presentation prepared by MCA and inspected the ground, has expressed satisfaction at the progress of the stadium which has been designed at par with international standards.
A spokesman of Sahara said its team would be paying frequent visits to the venue to monitor the progress of work and ensure completion on schedule. The IPL managers, it is learnt, have also kept ready an alternative plan to play the matches at Nehru stadium.