Mumbai Cricket Association Plans Massive 1 Lakh Seater Cricket Stadium in Thane District
Thane, 8th July 2024: Members of the victorious Indian T20 World Cup 2024 team gathered at the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha in Mumbai following their celebratory parade from Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium. Captain Rohit Sharma, along with Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, were warmly received by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and other dignitaries.
During the felicitation by the state government, Deputy CM Fadnavis proposed the idea of constructing a world-class cricket stadium in Maharashtra with a seating capacity exceeding one lakh, potentially one of the largest stadiums in the country.
Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has already applied for an open tender offered by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for a 50-acre plot of land in Amane village, Thane district. Formal plans for the stadium will proceed upon receiving approval from the state government.
“The MCA aims to build a sprawling cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 1 lakh on approximately 50 acres of land in Amane, located 26 km from Thane and 68 km from Wankhede Stadium. The association has submitted its bid to acquire the land parcel through the MSRDC’s tender process and awaits governmental clearance,” the report detailed.
The initiative reportedly stems from a vision shared by the late MCA President Amol Kale, who passed away in June shortly after attending the India-Pakistan clash in New York. “This stadium was a passion project for MCA President Amol Kale. It will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including two grounds suitable for hosting first-class matches,” a source close to the development revealed.
Currently, Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and Navi Mumbai’s Dr D.Y. Patil Sports Academy are the primary venues under the MCA’s purview for international fixtures. The BKC Ground and Deccan Gymkhana Ground have also hosted international matches but lack comprehensive modern amenities. Nearby, the historic Brabourne Stadium is managed by the Cricket Club of India and does not fall under the association’s grounds.
