T20s, ODIs at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Stadium – The international standard cricket grounds at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Stadium will see a stir of activity in March 2017. The event calendar is choc-a-bloc full of sporting action on the grounds in the coming days. Afghanistan will be playing several T20s and ODIs with Ireland throughout the March. The fifth round of the ICC Intercontinental Cup too is scheduled from March 28-31.
The Matches
Afghanistan will play against Ireland in a series of nine matches across several formats from March 8-31 at Greater Noida Cricket Stadium. The series, consisting of five ODIs, three T20s and a four-day round of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, will be played between March 8 and 31. T20s are scheduled at 14:00 Local Time (08:30 GMT). ODI matches will start at 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Stadium
The Greater Noida Cricket Stadium is constructed as per ICC specifications. It has a seating capacity of around 8,000 people. This huge stadium spread across 39 acres is located near Jaypee Resort. Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Stadium is built, developed and managed by the Greater Noida Authority (GNIDA). It has already hosted domestic matches including prestigious Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and several international games.
Duleep Trophy tournament was played for the first time with a pink ball here in August-September last year under the flood lights. Earlier in December 2015, the Greater Noida stadium had become home ground for Afghanistan Cricket Team. Afghanistan team shifted home base from Sharjah to Greater Noida. They pay Rs 75 lakh per month to the stadium for practicing at the grounds.
Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Stadium commonly goes by the name Greater Noida Sports Complex. The stadium houses a bowling alley, Olympic-size swimming pool, badminton court, skating rink, football ground, tennis complex, indoor stadium with a seating capacity of 6,500 and an athletic pavilion.
[bctt tweet=”Afghanistanv/sIreland T20,ODI,ICC Intercontinental Cup from Mar8-31 @ Gr #Noida Cricket Stadium” username=”noidadiary”]
The Teams
Ireland and Afghanistan along with other newcomer Zimbabwe form the Tier -2 cricket teams in the ICC (International Cricket Council) parlance. Ireland had famously beaten England at 2011 World Cup. Their repertoire of achievement is commendable so far. Afghan team has already beaten Pakistan at the 2007 tournament, West Indies and Zimbabwe in 2015. That year they narrowly failed to qualify from the group stage. Ireland’s Inter-Provincial competition was granted first-class status in October 2016. It was the first domestic tournament outside of a Test nation to be granted the first class status.
Test status to Afghanistan National Cricket team and Ireland Team is under consideration by ICC. Presently there are existing ten teams which have full membership. ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) is Afghanistan’s representative at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and an associate member of ICC since June 2013. Another feather in hat for Afghanistan team is their star player – Mohammad Nabi. He became the first Afghanistan player to be bought in an Indian Premier League auction. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) got him for Rs 30 lakh. Another Afghan cricketer, Rashid Khan fetched Rs 4 crore from Hyderabad SRH owners.
ICC Intercontinental Cup, 2015-2017
Ireland the toppers in ranking will clash with second placed Afghanistan team in Greater Noida. The fifth round of ICC Intercontinental Cup will be played from March 28-31. Match will start at 10:00 am Local Time (04:30 GMT)
Fixtures
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 8 (T20I) 14:00 Local Time (08:30 GMT).
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 10 (T20I) 14:00 Local Time (08:30 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 12 (T20I) 14:00 Local Time (08:30 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 15 (ODI) 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 17 (ODI) 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 19 (ODI) 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 22 (ODI) 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 24 (ODI) 09:30 Local Time (04:00 GMT)
Ireland v Afghanistan, March 28-31 (ICC INTERCONTINENTAL CUP) 10:00 am Local Time (04:30 GMT)
[bctt tweet=”Afghanistanv/sIreland T20,ODI,ICC Intercontinental Cup from Mar8-31 @ Gr #Noida Cricket Stadium” username=”noidadiary”]
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Abhijit
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Why did Ireland and Afghanistan chose to play in NOIDA? It is going to be very hot in India that time in March. Are they going to play in the evening?
Atulmaharaj
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It was a nice gesture to provide facilities to team like Afghanistan. For a war torn country, they have immense talent and hats off to the BCCI who proved to serve as the home ground for the Afghans. I’ve been to the stadium but never for a cricket match though. Sound exciting !
Sartaz
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We R very glad to know that the Afghans playing in india in our home Greater Noda. Osmmm