Ganguly ‘will miss being at stadium’ for India vs England pink ball Test

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday hailed the effort that went into the newly-renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the third Test between India and England is being staged, and sent his good wishes just hours before of the match.

The former India captain said he will miss being at the stadium for the pink ball match, the second day-night Test to be held in the country. He also hoped that the stands would be full the way the Eden Gardens in Kolkata was packed for the first pink ball Test between India and Bangladesh in 2019.

“Will miss being at the stadium today ..what an effort it must have been to create this ..pink test was our dream and it's going be the 2nd one in india.hope to see full stands like last time. Under the leadership of Honble Prime minister @narendramodi Amit Shah @AmitShah..,” he tweeted.

Ganguly also tagged BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, in another tweet to convey his wishes before the match.

“@JayShah and every office bearer and member of GCA ..must be proud of creating this infrastructure for every cricketer of Gujarat and India...Good wishes for today ..First international game after it was built ..@BCCI,” Ganguly tweeted.

Jay Shah thanked the BCCI chief for his wishes, adding that he will be missed at Motera Stadium.

Ganguly recently underwent two angioplasties and will not be present for the Test match, starting on Wednesday in Ahmedabad. India and England come into the third Test with the series level at 1-1.

The Motera Stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world, with a capacity to seat 1,10,000. It will be inaugurated on Wednesday by President Ram Nath Kovind, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju in attendance.