Leading Grounds
From too much rain in some Asian regions, there is too little in others. Yet cricket goes on thanks to the grounds built and maintained with tremendous dedication.Check out some of the leading grounds in the region.
An hour from the Kuala Lumpur city centre, amongst Malaysia's vast expanse of palm oil plantations in Shah Alam, rests the Bayuemas Oval. Bayuemas has hosted 24 ACC international matches and six games of the 2008 ICC U/19 World Cup. Built on a total of 9.05 acres, the ground was completed in August 2003 after two years of work. With local red clay used for the wicket block, the pitch may be a little slow but provides good bounce. A relatively high sand content in the clay aids spin bowling. The Bayuemas Oval meets international standards in terms of ground size. Designed and constructed by the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) the ground is shaped like an inverted saucer, where the wicket is slightly higher than the rest of the ground, ensuring an excellent drainage system.
The only floodlit cricket ground in Malaysia, Kinrara Oval, witnessed the biggest names in modern cricket take to its field when it hosted the DLF Cup in 2006. With Australia, India and the West Indies participating, the eyes of the cricketing world fell unexpectedly on ICC Associates Malaysia. Kinrara was also the chosen venue for the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2008 final between India and South Africa. A whole of two years time and Kinrara Oval was complete in November 2004. Harrison dam clay from Darwin was brought in for the wicket and with scarce traces of sand in it the ball tends to fly on to the bat on this wicket. The outfield which consists of Bermuda grass is laid upon a sand carpet surface field i.e. 2 inches of fine sand. NZSTI built, the shape of the ground is similar to the Bayuemas Oval but the drainage is superior thanks to the Bermuda grass and sand carpeted outfield. Even after a thunderous shower, play can recommence within half an hour. Kinrara has played host to 27 ACC internationals at age-group and at senior level.
Sulaibiya is Kuwait's fourth fully-turfed ground. Managed by Kuwait Cricket, Sulaibiya was completed in 18 months in July 2008. Work began on the ground in the middle of winter with temperatures close to freezing point. The top soil of the pitch was imported from Pakistan with a clay content of 70%, silt 10%, fine sand particles and others making up the rest.
The ground has a good water supply and excellent drainage. The soil used in Sulaibiya is the same Gujranwala clay that has helped shape Kuwait's Ahmadi and KEC grounds. The Sulaibiya wicket favours spin bowling.
Currently Nepal's only international sized ground, Tribhuvan University (TU) has hosted 14 ACC tournaments and a number of ICC Intercontinental matches against Malaysia, Hong Kong and UAE in the 2004 and 2005. After a year of construction work, TU was completed in 1998. The soil used for the ground and the pitch was local soil which was NZSTI approved. TU has great opportunities for future development and the ground serves as a suitable neutral venue for international games.
The RBSC Polo Ground was completed in 1980 and has gone on to host 17 ACC internationals over the past two years. The curators used local clay which was tested and proven to be ideal for cricket pitches. This clay has also been sent to the Singapore Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket Club.A classic batting wicket, players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, John Wright, Zaheer Abbas, Clive Rice, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rumesh Ratnayake, and Syed Kirmani have graced this ground.
Newly constructed, with ACC and Government funding this new international-standard ground will be inaugurated in November 2011.Asian Cricket Council Office
3rd Floor, Menara BRDB
285 Jalan Maarof
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: + 603 2284 9594
Fax: + 603 2284 9593
Email: dev@asiancricket.org