Mumbai: After being renamed as IS Bindra-PCA Stadium, the Test against South Africa beginning on Thursday will be the first international match at this Mohali venue.
In April this year, the PCA (Punjab Cricket Association) Stadium was named after the former PCA and BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra.
"Initially, Bindra was reluctant to lend his name to the Stadium," said Ashok Behl, the Stadium manager from Mohali.
"It was only after much persuasion, he agreed to have his name after the Stadium."
"Bindra also laid a condition that the name "PCA" be not removed from it and that's how it is now known as IS Bindra-PCA Stadium," added Behl.
"Our country has Stadiums named after MA Chidambaram (Chennai), M.Chinnaswamy (Bangalore), S. K. Wankhede (Mumbai) and the services Bindra rendered to Punjab cricket are great and we could not resist the temptation to add his name in the Stadium," Col. Sushil Kapoor, the PCA official said.
"Yes, Bindra (now the PCA chairman) and his wife are invited to witness the Test and they will be there in attendance. Even the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur is likely to be there. The BCCI president Shashank Manohar is also invited. Though the BCCI has its AGM early next week (November 9), the officials may have very little time to visit," he added.
"The two national selectors, Sandeep Patil (chairman) and Vikram Rathore are certain to be present," Kapoor added.
"The visiting South African team has few family members of their players," he added.
The first Test at this venue was played against West Indies in 1994. The Stadium has hosted several ODIs' including World Cup matches.
