Taking forward the growth of sports infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, the international cricket stadium in Varanasi is set to host Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy matches.The Varanasi International Cricket Stadium, located in Ganjari, Rajatalab, was built at a cost of approximately Rs 450 crore. It can accommodate around 30,000 spectators and features tiered seating inspired by the famous steps of Varanasi’s ghats. After three years, the stadium’s pitch is ready for play. The venue has nine wickets with red, black and mixed soils, as well as a modern drainage system. TOI was the first to report on the planned sports facility in Kashi (April 27, 2022). The Varanasi stadium will be Uttar Pradesh’s fourth international cricket stadium, after those in Kanpur, Lucknow and Noida. A stadium in Gorakhpur is also under construction.A senior UPCA official told TOI: “The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association is set to host two Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy matches at the yet-to-be-inaugurated international cricket stadium in Varanasi. These will be the first official domestic matches scheduled at the newly built stadium. The first match, between Uttar Pradesh and Puducherry, will be played from December 3 to 6, while the second, between Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, will be held from December 11 to 14. UPCA has sent the proposal to the BCCI.”The official added: “The construction agency will hand over the stadium in October. Before the Under-19 domestic matches, we will host friendly matches and a camp there.”The city’s journey towards becoming a destination for international cricket began with the laying of the stadium’s foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2023. The event was attended by cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Madan Lal, Gundappa Viswanath and Karsan Ghavri.
