International Cricket Council match referee Allan Hurst inspected the the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Friday to find out if the stadium could be accorded Test status.
The stadium has so far hosted a solitary one-day match, between India and South Africa in November 2005.
It will host the India-Australia day-night one-day international match on October 5, and the Hyderabad Cricket Association officials are making every possible effort to ensure that the stadium is ready in time.
The project to install the floodlights, which cost a whopping Rs 5 crore, is expected to be completed by October 1, just days before the match.
Hurst in course of his visit will inspect the main stadium and practice wickets to ensure they are upto international standards. The other facilities available for the players including the multi-purpose gymnasium and swimming pool will also be inspected by the former Australia player.
More importantly, Hurst is also expected to inspect the security situation, in the wake of the recent twin blasts in Hyderabad. He was accompanied on his tour of the stadium by HCA secretary and former India player Shivlal Yadav.
Hurst will submit his report to the ICC, which will then make a decision.
The ICC team has already inspected stadiums in Dharamsala, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Rajkot to check if these venues qualified to host international matches.
Photograph: Snaps India
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