Andhra Pradesh to host a cricket World Cup match after 28 years
The 'City of Destiny' has added another feather in its cap. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the window for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, scheduled to begin on September 30, and Visakhapatnam's Dr YSR ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium has been selected as one of the four Indian venues to host the matches. It marks the return of Andhra Pradesh to host a cricket World Cup game after 28 years.
The other Indian cities chosen as match venues are Bengaluru, Indore, and Guwahati, while Colombo in Sri Lanka will be the co-host for the tournament.
The tournament is set to begin in Bengaluru on September 30, with the final slated for November 2 either in Bengaluru or Colombo.
Apart from host India, defending champions Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa will take part in the tournament.
While Indians are seeking their maiden title, Aussies have been the most successful team with seven wins.
This will be the fourth time that India hosts the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, having previously hosted it in 1978, 1997, and 2013. The upcoming edition marks the return of the tournament to Indian soil after 12 years. During the last edition hosted in 2013, India finished fifth, while Australia clinched the tile.
Though Visakhapatnam has never hosted a Women's World Cup match before, it did host a Men's ICC World Cup match between Australia and Kenya in 1996. Australia defeated Kenya by 97 runs.
Meanwhile, the last Women's World Cup match hosted in Andhra Pradesh was in 1997 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Vijayawada, between England and Pakistan, in which England defeated Pakistan by 230 runs.
Though India hosted major ICC events like 2011 Men's ODI World Cup, the 2013 Women's ODI World Cup, the 2016 Men's and Women's T20 World Cups, and the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup, Andhra Pradesh has not had the opportunity to host another World Cup game.
Massive renovation
The Dr YSR ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium at PM Palem was renovated with a budget of ₹40 crore by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) in February this year. The entrance arch and the entire building were refurbished with a new design.
The old halogen lights were replaced with LED lights. Facilities for the players and the spectators were improved. The toilets were upgraded and increased from 54 to 250. The number of lifts and elevators was increased. The interiors of the stadium were also revamped with new sports designs. Illumination, air-conditioning. Firefighting sprinklers were upgraded. The stadium has hosted two Indian Premier League (IPL) matches successfully.
ACA Secretary Sana Satish Kumar thanked ICC Chairman Jay Shah and the BCCI for selecting the stadium as a venue for matches. During his recent visit to the Visakhapatnam stadium for an IPL match, Mr. Shah appreciated the renovation efforts and assured that the venue would be given more opportunities to host matches.
'The Vizag stadium offers some of the best facilities for both players and spectators in South India, second only to Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Visakhapatnam is now emerging as a frontrunner for hosting cricket matches in the coming years,' he said.
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