BCCI unveils six new Test venues for 2016/17 season

The BCCI has took yet another big step towards spreading cricket in the lesser known venues by announcing Rajkot, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Indore as the new Test venues for India’s 2016-17 home season.

A jam-packed schedule awaits the Indian cricket team which will include series against New Zealand, England, Australia and Bangladesh. The announcement was made after the BCCI’s Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee met in Mumbai.

All these venues will get matches subject to the condition that they have numbered the seats in the stadiums and fulfill all the guidelines laid down by the BCCI.

In all, India’s home season will include 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is; 13 Tests equals the record for the highest number of home Tests in a season for India. The previous time these many were held was in 1979-80.

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Indore, Kanpur and Kolkata will host New Zealand for their three Tests, before they move to Dharamsala, Delhi, Mohali, Ranchi and Visakhapatnam for the one-dayers.

Welcoming the new Test venues, BCCI president Anurag Thakur said, “I welcome the new Test venues hosting this prestigious format of cricket and their arrival will take Test match cricket to every corner of the country.”

Board secretary Ajay Shirke said, “Some of the best teams of world cricket are coming to play in India this season and we are excited to announce the schedule well ahead of time. This gives the staging associations and the BCCI, sufficient time to prepare and present, one of the most memorable cricketing seasons for our fans.

“I have full faith in our team at BCCI to deliver international & domestic cricket simultaneously and engage the ardent fans, on all fronts.”

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New Zealand will visit first and play three Tests and five ODIs, before England arrive towards the end of the year for five Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.

The Australia series is scheduled for February-March 2017. They will play four Tests, with matches in Bangalore, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Pune. The BCCI said the Bangladesh Test will be held in Hyderabad, but did not mention a date for it.

Bangladesh will visit India for a Test series for the first time since they were given Test status in 2000 when they will travel to the country for a one-off Test during the season. India is the last of the Full Members to host Bangladesh for Test cricket.

England’s Tests are scheduled for Mohali, Rajkot, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Chennai, while Pune, Cuttack and Kolkata get their ODIs. The three T20Is will be played in Bangalore, Nagpur and Kanpur.