It is quite disappointing that despite up-gradation of M A Stadium by spending a whopping amount of Rs 42.17 crore, it has numerous shortcomings as was once again become evident after the former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen, who is in Jammu for the Legends League reportedly maintained that the wicket in this sports facility is not good enough for the shortest format of the game viz T20.
It is pertinent to mention that experts in the field had also claimed that holding International and IPL matches at Maulana Azad (MA) Stadium is still a distant dream as despite its rejuvenation it is not fit to hold even club matches.
Notably, the up-gradation work of the aforementioned stadium was started in the year 2018 and was executed at an estimated cost of Rs 42.17 crore. The concerned officials had claimed that it would be a 100 percent ICC compliance stadium where they would be able to host international test, one-day and even T-20 matches. They had also claimed that once completed this stadium would be the largest stadium in India after Eden Garden.
This is irksome for the sports fraternity of the region that a huge amount from the Government's exchequer has been spent on the face-lifting of this sports facility, which earlier used to cater to the needs of thousands of sportspersons in various disciplines of sports but after declaring it as the exclusive stadium for cricket the outcome is dismal. What this stadium lacks as a standard facility for hosting international cricket include standard turf wickets in the centre, at least around 10 practice wickets for holding net sessions, standard sheds over the stairs on all enclosures with air conditioning facilities, proper drainage system, quality pavilion, proper changing rooms and not to talk of car parking, good hotels and other allied infra in its vicinity.
These shortcomings have been pointed out by the experts in the field and therefore before hosting more matches or championships, it is imperative for the stakeholders to work on the aforesaid facilities and make sure that this time the money dissipated should be utilized judiciously as the earlier efforts seem to be namesake because the stadium sadly is not fit for holding tournaments flawlessly and if the concerned quarters will not mend ways the days are not far when the people will tag this sports facility as ‘jinxed'.
