Greater Noida set to host first Ranji Trophy match today

GREATER NOIDA: In a bid to mark its spot on the premier cricket league map, Greater Noida is all set to host its first Ranji Trophy match on Tuesday. The match will be played between Uttar Pradesh and Vadodara at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Parthik Sports Stadium.
Noida Authority chairman Rama Raman will inaugurate the match, which will be played till December 4.
"We have completed all formalities and logistics for the match. All arrangements for visitors and players are in place," said Rajeev Tyagi, deputy general manager (projects), Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA).
"The show will begin at 8.30 am, following ttoss will be at 9 am and the first ball will be played at 9.30 am," said an official, adding that the first session will be played between 9.30 am and 12 noon, followed by a 40-minute lunch break. The second session will be played between 12.40 pm and 2.40 pm, followed by another 20-minute tea break and the third session will continue from 3 pm till 4.30 pm.
Currently, the stadium has a seating capacity for 8,000 people, which will be enhanced to 14,000 spectators in the future. Constructed and developed by GNIDA, it has been built according to International Cricket Council specifications. Around 400 spectators can also watch matches sitting on stadium chairs. A VVIP enclosure and corporate box is also available for sighting the matches.
The match is being conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). Next year, cricket matches for the Deodhar Trophy will alsobe held between January 26 and 29.
By the end of December, the city is expecting to host the Under-19 cricket teams of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, which are likely to play three one-day and two T-20 matches here. GNIDA is expected to sign an MoU with the cricket boards of the two countries on Tuesday. Last week, officials of the Afghanistan cricket board (ACB) and the GNIDA discussed technical and legal issues.