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Aussie experts inspect stadium

September 18, 2004 15:40 IST
Last Updated: September 18, 2004 16:10 IST


Amidst apprehensions that lack of adequate facilities may put Australia's tour-opener at Hyderabad in jeopardy, a two member Australian expert team on Saturday visited the new cricket stadium at Uppal but declined to make any comments over the facilities.

The world champions are scheduled to play their only warm up match at the new stadium before the four-Test series against Ranji Champions Mumbai from September 30.

Previous Report


Aussies unhappy with venue


The two officials -- Cricket Australia operations manager Michael Brown and Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Tim May -- inspected the facilities and preparations along with BCCI and Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officials and said they would be submitting their report "very soon."

The duo had a look at the pitch and the field during the drinks interval of a local match but did not comment on whether they were satisfied with the facilities or not.

"We are here on invitation from the local Association and took a first hand view of the facilities.

"We will appraise the situation to our Board back home."

"Basically we have seen the preparedness in security, pitch, outfield, galleries and other areas and we will give our report to the Association," May told reporters.

The officials will go back to Mumbai this evening and are likely to have a meeting with BCCI officials before flying home on Sunday, according to sources.

The officials mainly concentrated on the pitch and the area around the wicket as their previous complain of the outfield being bereft of grass was taken care of to a certain extent.

HCA secretary Shivlal Yadav said, "we have ten more days to go and work is going on at a fast pace. Everything will be completed by then."

HCA sources said the Australians had expressed concern over the outfield and steps will be taken to rectify them.

The new stadium in the industrial area on the northern outskirts of the city has been built with a capacity to accommodate 80,000 people.



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