Birgunj, Oct 22: The renovation of the cricket ground at the Narayani Stadium in Birgunj has begun. The ground had been in poor condition for years due to a lack of maintenance, but now efforts to upgrade it are in progress.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is planning a two-day Elite Cup cricket tournament in Madhesh Province’s Janakpur and Birgunj from December-January. This has led to the initiation of improvements to the cricket pitch and ground in Birgunj.
Teams from Madhesh, Bagmati, Nepal Police, and Tribhuvan Army Club will compete in the Elite Cup tournament. Manish Singh, President of the Parsa Cricket Association, stated that the renovation of Birgunj’s cricket ground is aimed at preparing for the Elite Cup. “Birgunj cricket ground had been neglected for a long time. In anticipation of the Elite Cup, we have begun the construction of an international-level pitch,” he said. “By the second week of Mangsir, the pitch and other infrastructure will be ready.”
Under the leadership of Bangladesh’s curator Md Abdul Al Muno, affiliated with the Cricket Association of Nepal, the work on the pitch is progressing. “We are constructing the pitch with a depth of 18 inches,” he said. “The foundation of the pitch has already been completed, and it will be an international-standard pitch.”
President Singh also informed that the renovation, including the pitch construction, will cost around Rs 8 lakhs, excluding labor costs. The cricket ground spans an area of nearly 4.18 bighas. President Singh highlighted the challenges in maintaining the ground due to compensation disputes and a lack of budget.
“We have not been able to maintain the ground due to issues with the compensation for the land,” he said. “It is crucial to move forward with the financial resources and necessary processes for compensation.”
Ayush Shrestha, Secretary of the Madhesh Province Cricket Association, acknowledged that while Madhesh is a fertile ground for cricket, its infrastructure remains weak. He emphasized the need for the government to prioritize infrastructure development for cricket in Madhesh Province. #cricket #madhes #terai #birgunj
