GUWAHATI, Nov 10 � The new cricket stadium being constructed by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) at Barsapara here will be named after cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika, who left for heavenly abode on November 5.
Informing this, ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said as per the decision of the cricket association's governing body it was resolved to name the stadium after the legend. "We are planning to hold the first match in the new stadium by November, 2012, beginning with domestic ones," he said.
When completed, the 60,000-capacity stadium will be one of the finest in the country having all the modern facilities. Besides the cricketing arena with covered sitting arrangements all around, the stadium will also have necessary infrastructure and paraphernalia like indoor practice wicket, swimming pool, gym, etc.
Already two of the four grand stands, including the players' pavilion and the state-of-the-art media centre, have been completed and the ground with a 24-hour water sprinkling facility is also ready. An Australian firm has installed the automated pop-up water sprinklers in the ground in the stadium that also has a dedicated 100-KV electrical substation.
The entire stadium project will cost over Rs 100 crore.