BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, confirmed that the new Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat will host the day-night Test between India and England in the 2021 series.

England is slated to visit India from January-March for five Tests and a limited-overs series.

“Ahmedabad will hold the day-night Test,” Ganguly said at the Kolkata Press Club while launching a book by CPI (M) MLA Ashok Bhattacharya.

Inaugurated by US President Donald Trump on February 24 during his trip to India, the New Sardar Patel stadium has a capacity of seating 110,000 people, 10,000 more than MCG’s capacity of 100,000 seats. The $100-million, circular venue covers 63 acres of land, promises unobstructed views, and has state-of-the-art facilities including an Olympic-sized swimming pool as part of a multisport complex.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweets the latest photo of “Magnificent Motera”

Despite the COVID-19 situation in India, BCCI is determined to host England in the country and is already exploring all possible options, including creating bio-secure bubbles.

Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, and Kolkata are likely to be the three of the venues for the Test series, but Ganguly said they are yet to take a final call.

“We have made some tentative plans but nothing has been decided as of now. We still have four months’ time. Before England, we have the Australia series coming up. There will be team selection happening in a few days,” said Ganguly.

As for the domestic season, the BCCI has decided to start the Ranji Trophy from January 1, and Ganguly said the details will be worked out in the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

He said, “The AGM will happen soon, and there we will decide about the Ranji Trophy.”

(PTI Inputs)