Flood lights in cricket stadium by month-end

RANCHI: The cricket stadium under construction in Ranchi will be equipped with flood lights of "international standards" by the end of February and will be ready for day-night matches of the Jharkhand Premiere League (JPL) beginning on March 12, organizers said here on Wednesday.
The Jharkhand State Cricket Association in collaboration with Elite Sports Event Management Company which is hosting the JPL have entered into an agreement with a national sports channel for live coverage of the matches.
Addressing the media, director of the company Nishant Dayal said, "Eleven parties have bought tender documents to participate in players' auction slated for February 13." Players like Saurabh Tiwari and Ishank Jaggi will be the main attractions.
On setting up of flood lights at the stadium, advisor to the JSCA A K Singh said instead of four high-mast lights, the stadium here would be illuminated by six. "All work is being carried out according to international norms and standards. Each mast will be 65 feet high and equipped with 480 lumens," he said.
The work being executed by Philips at an estimated cost of around Rs 6.6 crores includes erection of the masts and installation of 80 lamps in each of them to produce required brightness with minimum shadow effect.
Dayal said after the inauguration on March 12, two matches would be played everyday one beginning at 3.30pm and another at 7.30pm. "The final will be played on March 19 and the period has been carefully chosen as it is a lean period for Team India in the coming World Cup," he said.
To constitute five teams based on locations namely Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Singhbhum, 11 parties have expressed interest.
Sunil Singh of the JSCA said of four pools of players pool-A comprised five players of Under-19 and India-A team. The base price for auction has been fixed at Rs 2 Lakh. "Saurabh Tiwari, Ishank Jaggi, Mihir, Rajiv Kumar and Nadim are some of the players who have performed well in Ranji and national matches will be in the pool," Dayal said.