Tuesday, Dec 13, 2022 07:45 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Dec 13, 2022 02:15 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Sikkim Cricket Ground at Rangpo’s Mining will become the newest venue in the country to host a Ranji Trophy match when Sikkim take on Manipur in the season-opener of the Plate Division starting Tuesday.
SCG will be hosting two more of Sikkim's five Ranji matches this season, against Mizoram from December 27 and Arunachal Pradesh from January 10, 2023. The Sikkim team will then travel to Shillong and Patna for two away games against Meghalaya and Bihar.
Apart from the three first-class matches, the SCG will also host three Col CK Nayudu Trophy matches.
Sikkim Cricket Association has expressed pleasure over the fact that the State would be hosting a four-day first class match for the first time.
“BCCI has put us in an elite club of Ranji Trophy hosts and we are very proud to have reached that level. Hosting first-class matches will surely lead to more interest in the game of cricket in the State,” said SICA secretary Tshewang Lama, adding that SCG is all prepared to host the game. The ground has hosted only State competitions in the past.
Sikkim are relative newcomers to cricket’s national stage, with their first appearance at a major tournament coming in 2018.
The ability to host high-profile contests now will be another feather in the cap of the State’s cricketing fraternity.
The pitch at Sikkim Cricket Ground has a batting-friendly surface. The team winning the toss is most likely to bat first. Both the teams will announce their playing XI at the toss.
