ICC pitch consultant inspects Motera stadium for 2011 WC

Ahmedabad:

ICC pitch consultant Andy Atkinson on Wednesday inspected the Sardar Patel stadium at Motera here for its preparedness for the Test match between India and New Zealand in November and for the Cricket World Cup in 2011.

Atkinson arrived in the city this afternoon and examined the stadium owned by Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) which was inundated in over ten feet water after heavy rains in August.

According to GCA secretary Rajesh Patel, Atkinson was happy with the arrangements at the stadium.

"Atkinson inspected the outfield, pitch and other parts of the stadium. He was happy with the arrangements. He even appreciated our efforts as the stadium was flooded during heavy rains last month," Patel said.

Atkinson was appraised about the ground conditions by Patel as well as the pitch curator Dhiraj Parsana.

"The ICC consultant was here to overseen preparedness for the India-New Zealand Test in November as well as the 2011 World Cup," Patel said.

Sardar Patel stadium is venue for three matches (in Feb-Mar 2011) during the 2011 World Cup including a quarter final match.

The stadium is also scheduled to host the first Test match between India and New Zealand between November 4-8. In August, Motera area received over 25 cm of rainfall in two days time following which the Sardar Patel stadium was filled with water, causing a damage which was estimated to about Rs 50 lakh.

The stadium was refurbished early this year after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was elected as the president of GCA. The makeover also came before the third season of Indian Premier League (IPL) in February.