After introducing 6 new Test venues last year, BCCI is set to introduce two more in the upcoming 2017-18 season. The two new venues are Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Barsapara in Assam, which are in the contention to host Tests during India and Sri Lanka. Moreover, India are set to play 23 international matches in the coming season at home between September and December. As reported by Hindustan Times, the decision on further fixture will be taken by BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee in Kolkata on Tuesday.
According to BCCI office bearer, the Indian team will play five ODIs and three T20Is against Australia during September to mid-October.
Venues for Australia series
The @CricketAus will play 5 ODIs at Chennai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Indore, Kolkata. The 3 T20I will be held at Hyderabad, Ranchi, Guwahati.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2017
After that, India will host three ODIs and T20Is against New Zealand. The series against New Zealand will commence from late October and it will end in the first week of November.
Venues for New Zealand series
The New Zealand team @BLACKCAPS will play ODIs at Pune, Mumbai, Kanpur followed 3 T20I at Delhi, Cuttack, Rajkot.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2017
India is all set to play 23 internationals at home from Sep-Dec 2017 – 3 Tests, 11 ODIs, 9 T20Is against Australia, New Zealand & Sri Lanka.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 1, 2017
The home season will end in December with three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka, followed by India’s tour to South Africa.
Venues for Sri Lanka series
The @OfficialSLC will play 3 ODIs at Dharamsala, Mohali, Vizag followed by 3 T20I at Kochi/Thiruvanantpuram, Indore, Mumbai.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2017
“There are 23 International matches at home. Three Tests, 11 ODIs and nine T20 Internationals. Each and every venue in India will be covered. Barsapara in Assam and Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram have got Test status. Both are vying for Test matches. Most of the bigger centres want either a T20 International or ODIs,” a BCCI official told PTI.
A Kerala Cricket Association official confirmed the development. “Since Kochi’s Nehru Stadium, which has traditionally hosted ODIs, will be used for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, we are hoping that Greenfields gets its first Test,” he said.
Meanwhile, big venues such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru or Mohali, will get ODIs and T20Is, which brings good crowd. There are possibilities that a couple of centres may get more than a match. “One can be rest assured that at least 16-18 venues will be covered during this phase,” he concluded.
