KSCA Stadium prepares to host first Ranji match as neutral venue

HUBBALLI: The KSCA Stadium in Raj Nagar is gearing up to host a Ranji Trophy match between Gujarat and Mumbai from November 21 to 24. Keeping the requirements in mind, the KSCA authorities are working hard to prepare the stadium.
Shivanand Gunjal, local curator for the KSCA, said that the focus in on preparing wickets. “We are preparing two wickets of which one will be finalized by the curators from Bengaluru who are likely to reach Hubballi on Thursday.Once they finalize the wicket, other works will be taken up,” he said.
This is the first time that Hubballi is hosting a Ranji Trophy match as a neutral venue. Since 2012, the KSCA Stadium in Raj Nagar has hosted four Ranji Trophy matches in which Karnataka took on Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi.
The organizers are not sure of response from the cricketing fans due to the absence of local heroes. Budding cricketers and fans are disappointed with the neutral venue: “We grow in cricket by watching and learning from our favorite players. If our favorite player doesn’t play in our home ground, then what is the use?” said Ramachandra N, a player from a school cricket team.
One of the organizers said that it is very difficult to get spectators for a Ranji Trophy. “As we struggled to get spectators for KPL, we are not expecting many spectators for the Ranji match,” he said.
Baba Bhusad, convener for KSCA Dharwad zone, said that the ongoing development works at the stadium will not create any problem for the match. “All arrangements have been made. Accommodation, food and others arrangements have been finalized. If spectators come to watch the match, then needful arrangements will be made for them,” he said.