By The Sampadak Express
In a notable reshuffle, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced changes to several venues in the upcoming men’s and women’s international fixtures, citing logistical and environmental concerns.
Test Matches: Venue Swap Between Delhi and Kolkata
The second Test between India and West Indies, originally scheduled to be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from October 10 to 14, will now take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
In a reciprocal move, the first Test against South Africa, scheduled for November 14 to 18, has been shifted from Delhi to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
This adjustment comes in response to rising concerns over New Delhi’s air quality post-Diwali. Hosting a match three weeks after the festival could pose significant health risks to players due to smog and pollution a problem that has previously led to players wearing masks on the field, as seen during the 2017 India-Sri Lanka Test and the 2023 ODI World Cup match involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Women’s ODI Series: Chennai to New Chandigarh and Delhi
Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, undergoing upgrades to its outfield and pitches, will no longer host the India-Australia women’s ODI series. Instead, the first two matches will be played at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the final ODI set for New Delhi.
This marks a historic moment for New Chandigarh as it hosts women’s international cricket for the first time, while New Delhi returns to hosting a women’s ODI after nearly three decades the last ones played there were in 1985 and 1995.
India ‘A’ vs South Africa ‘A’: New Venue for One-Day Series
The three-match one-day series between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’, originally slated for Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from November 13-19, has now been relocated to the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
However, the two multi-day matches between the ‘A’ teams will continue as planned at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.
No Further Changes to International Season
The BCCI confirmed that the rest of the men’s international schedule remains unaffected.
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