Kanpur’s Green Park set to host its last international game next month

After hosting 22 Tests, 14 ODIs and a solitary T20I, Green Park will not be hosting any more international games after the New Zealand ODI next month. Earlier, it wasn’t sure if the Green Park will get the third ODI between India and New Zealand as the BCCI was contemplating to schedule it in the new Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

The BCCI website said that the fixture’s venue will be confirmed later but the acting President of the BCCI, CK Khanna confirmed that the game will be held at the Green Park as the Lucknow Stadium still needs finishing touches before it gets ready to host an international game. Khanna also hinted that this ODI between India and New Zealand might well be the last game Green Park will host.

“Probably, this would be for the last time that the Green Park hosts an international match as the Lucknow stadium is far superior, and one of the best stadiums in the country,” Khanna told Hindustan Times on the sidelines of the Duleep Trophy final on Thursday.

Ekana STadium will host a few IPL games first

Khanna stated that the Ekana Stadium will first host a few IPL games before being able to stage international games. The acting President also remarked that the Stadium will be the best across the state of Uttar Pradesh.

“This stadium requires at least two more months to finish, and after conducting the Indian Premier League matches next season, this venue would be the best-ever in the state to host international matches,” said Khanna.

“A few IPL teams have approached the authorities here, and it would be good for the venue to gear up for big matches (ODIs and Tests) in future,” he added.

New Zealand will arrive in the country in the mid-October for a limited overs leg tour of India. They will play two side games at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai before taking on India at the Wankhede in the first ODI on October 22.The third ODI at the Green Park will follow a 3-T20I series which will commence on November 7.