Barabati Stadium In Cuttack In Line To Host India-South Africa T20I In June - Report

South Africa will be traveling to India in the month of June 2022 for a series of five T20I matches to be played from June 9-19. Though the venues for the five matches have been decided, it has now been reported that the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack will get to host one of the matches in lieu of losing out as a host to the West Indies.

The Barabati Stadium was set to host the first T20I between India and the West Indies in February later this month. However, taking into consideration the ongoing third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to host the ODIs and T20Is against the West Indies at only two venues.

The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies which begins from February 6 will all be played behind closed doors at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. The following three T20Is between the two sides will be played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, also with no crowds allowed in the stadium.

Discussed With BCCI President To Host A T20I Between India And South Africa At The Barabati Stadium: Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Sanjay Behera

The original venues for the five-match T20I series between India and South Africa in June 2022 are Chennai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Rajkot, and Delhi. However, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary, Sanjay Behera, has held discussions with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Sourav Ganguly regarding hosting one of the T20I matches, if reports from News 18 are to be believed.

“All preparations were done for the T20I against the West Indies. We even held discussions with the Odisha government who advised us to host the match behind closed doors. But considering the Covid-19 situation in the country, the BCCI decided to hold the matches in two cities.

I have had discussions with BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to host a T20I between India and South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in the month of June,” said Sanjay Behera, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary.

South Africa last toured India in 2020 to play three ODI matches in March 2020, but the first match was washed out due to rain. However, the remaining two ODIs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that had just begun and the Proteas flew back home.

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