Big-time cricket returns to CCI again

MUMBAI: Big-time cricket will return to its original home in India on Wednesday night.
The historic Brabourne Stadium will stage its first IPL game in four years when the Mumbai Indians, with roughly 25,000 enthusiastic fans cheering their heart out for them, take on the Chennai Super Kings in the Eliminator.
"We are thrilled and excited that cricket is back at the iconic Brabourne.Legendary Indian cricketers like CK Nayudu, Vijay Merchant and Tiger Pataudi have played at this venue. We are looking forward to the game," Cricket Club of India (CCI) president Sevanti Parekh told TOI on Tuesday.
CCI went on to host 17 Tests till a dispute with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) over allocation of tickets saw national cricket in Mumbai move to Wankhede Stadium, situated just half a mile away, in 1975.
Incidentally, almost 40 years later, the MCA is again miffed with the CCI for Brabourne staging the IPL Eliminator without their 'permission.'
Parekh, though, is willing to bury the hatchet, and has invited top MCA officials for the match. "We enjoy a very good relationship with them. We'll be happy if they come for the tie and grace the occasion," said Parekh.
CCI has a series of firsts to its credit. The venue hosted the first T20 international on Indian soil on October 20, 2007 when newly crowned World T20 champs India beat Australia by six wickets.
The ground also witnessed history being made when it hosted a Test match after 36 years in December 2009 when India beat Sri Lanka by an innings to be crowned World No. 1.