Established 2003
Capacity 25,000
Floodlights No
End names Pavilion End, North Block End
Home team(s) Andhra
Current local time 09:02, Sat Sep 06, 2008 (UTC +0530)
External links Weather
The picturesque ACA-VDCA (Andhra Cricket Association/Visakhapatnam
District Cricket Association) ground, set on the outskirts of
Visakhapatnam amidst scenic hills, has hosted just one international
match so far: the second ODI of the series between India and Pakistan
in 2005. But on the evidence of that game, in which over 650 runs were
scored, the playing strip is one of the best batting pitches in the
country, hard and true and perfect for hitting through the line, as
the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni proved while
flaying the Pakistan attack on the way to 148. The stadium currently
seats 25,000, although there are plans to increase its capacity to
36,000 with the addition of more tiers to the stands. These additions
might, however, block the view of the hills and the pleasant breeze
allowed into the ground by the low-lying stands, which currently give
it a pleasant air far from the hothouse atmosphere of most Indian
grounds.
(Chandrahas Choudhury)
