New Motera stadium to host Women’s Senior One-Day Challenger Trophy

The New Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad recently hosted the Namaste Trump event in which former Gujarat CM and current Indian PM Narendra Modi hosted USA President Donald Trump and his wife, the first lady Melania Trump. International match is yet to be played at the venue.

But in good news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the newest and largest cricket stadium in the world will be the venue for the Women’s Senior One-Day Challenger Trophy matches in March 2020. This will be a four-day tournament, which will see the top women cricketers in the country featuring for India Red, India Blue and India Green teams competing for white-ball supremacy.

Will help us get things in order before international fixtures: BCCI official

This news was shared by the former Vice President of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) Shri Parimal Nathwani on Twitter. He said that he was delighted to see cricket coming back to the iconic Ahmedabad stadium after a long break. “Delighted to see cricket resume at new Motera stadium! BCCI has announced schedule of Women’s Senior 1Day Challenger Trophy matches at Motera from 26 to 30 March. After years of hard work, I look forward to seeing cricket action at world’s largest #cricket stadium,” Nathwani tweeted.

Delighted to see #cricket resume at new Motera stadium! @BCCI has announced schedule of Women's Senior 1Day Challenger Trophy matches at Motera from 26 to 30 Mar. After years of hard work, I look forward to seeing cricket action at world's largest #cricket stadium. @BCCIdomestic pic.twitter.com/7EU0XO2qex

— Parimal Nathwani (@mpparimal) February 29, 2020

Over 1.10 lakh people had attended the event featuring PM Modi and USA President Trump. There were early speculations that the first big match to be played at the New Sardar Patel Stadium would be the final of the IPL 2020. But BCCI President Sourav Ganguly refuted the rumors and confirmed that Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai will host the final.

“Before an international fixture, this will help us get things in order. We have started the process of hosting the Challengers at the ground. The Board’s curators will get into action and we are confident of hosting a good tournament,” a BCCI official was quoted by Sportstar.

The new Sardar Patel Stadium is spread across 63 acres, with a seating capacity of 110,000.

The fixtures:

March 26: India Red vs India Blue

March 27: India Green vs India Red

March 28: India Blue vs India Green

March 30: Final

All matches will be played at the Motera A Ground (New Stadium)