The Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie between Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala will be held at the MCA International Stadium in Pune.
According to the new rule of the BCCI, Jammu and Kashmir is to host the game as it ended Group A as the table-topper. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association requested the BCCI to shift the stadium out of Jammu due to weather conditions.
“Since it’s winter, weather would have been a major concern for us, and we did not want to take any risks. Hence we requested the BCCI to allot us a different venue,” Brig. Anil Gupta, the head of the JKCA’s BCCI-appointed sub-committee, told Sportstar.
ALSO READ | Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals: Full list of teams qualified for knockouts
Currently in Mumbai, he spoke to the BCCI officials and while Mumbai and Ahmedabad were the preferred choices, the venues were not available due to international assignments.
“So, we decided to shift the game to Pune. Our team has done well in red-soil surfaces in Vadodara and Mumbai, where they went on to beat two game teams. So, we hope to carry the momentum,” Brig. Gupta said.
J&K topped the Elite Group A, and went on to beat Mumbai and Baroda in the group league matches to come this far.