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Journalism of Courage
The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) will unveil two stands named after former Indian women cricketers Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana at the Visakhapatnam stadium on October 12, coinciding with the India vs Australia match in the Women’s World Cup at the venue.
The first-of-a-kind tribute to women cricketers at the ACA-Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (ACA-VDCA) Stadium follows India batter Smriti Mandhana’s request to Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh during the ‘Breaking Boundaries’ programme in August.
Mandhana highlighted the absence of stands named after leading Indian women cricketers at various venues, including Visakhapatnam. She said that naming stands after women cricketers will honour their contributions to women’s cricket and inspire the next generation to choose cricket as a profession.
Acting on Mandhana’s appeal, Lokesh immediately consulted the ACA, leading to a resolution to name stands at the ACA-VDCA Stadium after Raj, a former India captain who is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket, and Kalpana, an Andhra-born wicketkeeper-batter.
Lokesh said, “Smriti Mandhana’s thoughtful suggestion captured a wider public sentiment. Translating that idea into immediate action reflects our collective commitment to gender parity and to acknowledging the trailblazers of women’s cricket.”
Mandhana’s intervention at ‘Breaking Boundaries’, where leading cricketers discussed the stereotypes and barriers women face in sport, underscored how visible honours in major venues can elevate awareness and inspire participation across India, he said.
The ACA-VDCA stadium came up in 2003 near Madhurawada on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam. It received Test status in 2015 and hosted its first test in November 2016 between India and England.
It has also hosted home matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, Rising Pune Supergiant, and Delhi Capitals. The most recent IPL match played at the stadium was on March 30, where Delhi Capitals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets.
The ACA-VDCA Stadium is set to host five games in the Women’s World Cup. They are as follows:
India vs South Africa: Thursday, October 9
India vs Australia: Sunday, October 12
South Africa vs Bangladesh: Monday, October 13
Australia vs Bangladesh: Thursday, October 16
England vs New Zealand: Sunday, October 26
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