2023 is going to be a treat for cricket fans around the world. So far from the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, and the ongoing Ashes, different formats of cricket have been a spectacle to witness.
However, most eyes will be on the ODI World Cup to be held in India, with reigning champions England set to defend the trophy against some of the best cricketing nations in the world.
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This will be the fourth time in history that India get the opportunity to host the ODI World Cup. The last time they hosted the tournament was in 2011 when they beat Sri Lanka in the final to lift the trophy for the second time in history.
Therefore to make it a special occasion, the Board of Council for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to take some special measures to make it an experience like never before for both fans and players.
How is BCCI upgrading venues for 2023 World Cup?
World Cup games will take place across 10 venues namely Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Dharamsala, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Kolkata. In all the stadiums in these venues, the BCCI has decided to make new upgrades based on the requirements specific for that particular place.
For instance, the Wankhede Stadium will have its outfield relaid, while upgrading to new LED lighting, as well as renovating the corporate boxes and toilets. Similarly, the MA Chidambaram Stadium is also seeing an improvement lighting, with two red soil pitches installed in the venue. Lucknow's Ekana Stadium has seen extensive repair work on their pitches and Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium has seen work done on their seats and toilet.
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Some of the most impressive work has been done at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. A new drainage system that has 6,000 metres of specialty pipes has been installed, an air-evacuation system that can get rid of excess rainwater in quick time, ryegrass reportedly best suitable for the cold weather, and river sand and gravel tested at a lab in Scotland has been used on the outfield.
To make sure the necessary improvements are made in these stadiums, the BCCI has allocated a sum of Rs. 50 crore to the various boards in charge of maintaining these venues and ensuring they are of world-class standards.