July 15: Finally, cricket lovers and Hyderabad Cricket Association have something to smile about. The city can host Test matches again after 22 years have gone by since the last Test was hosted here as the ICC has accorded Test ‘status’ to the Rajiv Gandhi stadium.
Now, with a stadium of its own and a pitch and facilities complying with all criteria, Hyderabad gets its due Test recognition though the state would have to queue up for a chance to host a Test match that is given out only by rotation as per BCCI policy. The competition to host Tests is quite severe with new centres having sprung up since Hyderabad last held a Test match.
Test matches are not yet passé although T20 the world over and the IPL in India have garnered all the attention. Veteran cricket administrator Man Singh says, “I am glad we have woken up to hosting Test matches again. In 1955 Ghulam Ahmed led India for the first time at Lal Bahadur Stadium. History is waiting to happen when we host Test matches again.”
Apparently, HCA had not pressed hard for Test status considering it has been three years since Alan Hurst of Australia inspected the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in 2007 and suggested only minor modifications, which meant that he had already signified ICC approval. Being in the center of the city, the Lal Bahadur Stadium was a venue that attracted crowds. But persistent friction among the Hyderabad Cricket Association, the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and the Fateh Maidan Club got so much that the HCA had pulled out of Fateh Maidan to go to the Gymkhana, an open ground in Secunderabad, which did not qualify to host an international match or Test. ODIs were still being held at the Lal Bahadur Stadium till the Uppal facility came up.
The player facilities at the Fateh Maidan were almost non-existent. The spectators were also crammed into galleries that did not hold any comfort. Yet, the people found it easy to get to the stadium that was situated almost at the centre of the two cities.
Now that Secunderabad has a world-class facility in Uppal, the buzz of Test cricket should be back. Youngsters get the opportunity to observe from close quarters the technique of the game and how the greats play it. Since Tests came once in a way to Hyderabad, only New Zealand ever featured in Tests. The huge capacity of the city to host exciting cricket came to the fore in the last ODI held at Uppal last year in which Sachin Tendulkar’s efforts in the chase against Australia lifted the spirit of the whole nation. India may have failed by a few runs but it was a match thoroughly enjoyed by all.