It is official now. Hyderabad will be hosting the second Test match between India and New Zealand in November at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium from November 12 to 16, effectively putting Hyderabad Cricket Association back in the Test fold after nearly 22 years.
BCCI president Sashank Manohar announced the decision at the annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“When we were given the option to prefer a Test to a one-dayer, we opted for the Test since the BCCI policy says that no centre can host both the Test and the one-dayer (which was originally allotted the third one-dayer on December 4)on the same tour,” HCA secretary D. S. Chalapathi said.
“This is a great day for Hyderabad cricket. I don’t think HCA got so many posts in recent memory. We are very grateful to the BCCI for being so sympathetic to us,” said a delighted Shivlal.
“Yes, we are going to unveil grand plans to celebrate the return of Hyderabad to Test fold as all the big-wigs of BCCI will be special invitee. We are going to finalise all the details within a few days in this regard,” Shivlal said.