The sixteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) may see a new venue hosting a few games. The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has verbally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host a few IPL 2023 matches at Jodhpur’s Barkatullah Khan Stadium. Meanwhile, the apex cricketing body has not yet said anything in this regard but it’s reported that BCCI might send a team to assess the venue.
Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium is the home for IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals and with the upcoming season to be played on the home-and-away format again, the association wants to have a few games at the new venue.
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“It’s a verbal request. We have been told that RCA has rejuvenated the stadium, and has asked us if we can consider Jodhpur as a new venue for a few IPL games. The board will take a call on it only after the recce team submits its report,” a source in the BCCI was quoted saying by the Indian Express.
The Barkatullah Khan Stadium has never hosted an international T20 match but it recently staged a few first-class games. Ranji Trophy games were played at the venue after a gap of nearly two decades when Rajasthan hosted Chhattisgarh and Services. The previous edition of the Legends League Cricket was also hosted at this venue.
Notably, a state association has to provide certain basic facilities at each venue in order to be eligible to host an IPL game. While the Jodhpur Stadium has all the basic amenities with a crowd capacity of 30,000, BCCI’s major concern is the size of the boundaries at the venue. The Indian cricket board is worried that the boundary size are not up to the required distance.
It’s worth mentioning that IPL will be returning to its old, home-and-away format in regard to hosting matches. IPL 2023 will be a 10-team affair this season and each state association will get at least nine home games.