Along with Ahmedabad, Lucknow is also one of the frontrunners to be in the Indian Premier League procession very soon. However, BCCI has advertised the city of Lucknow as a new IPL objective and they have plans to host New Zealand for a red ball match at this venue as well.

As per the report by TOI, the game against New Zealand will take place at the new Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium which has the ability to host nearly 70,000 fans. The series is scheduled right after the T20 World Cup as well. Notably, Lucknow will host its first Test match in almost 28 years when New Zealand will tour India after the T20 World Cup in UAE in November, after the match against Sri Lanka at KDS Babu Stadium in January 1994.

As per the report, BCCI has finished the work for the two-Test matches against New Zealand. While the one will be played in Lucknow, another one will take place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as well.

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“The stadium has good facilities and a capacity of nearly 70,000. That’s a good deal for any IPL franchise. Like Ahmedabad, it’s important to give Lucknow exposure to marquee international matches before the IPL teams are finalised. Lucknow was also shortlisted as a venue for the T20 World Cup had it happened in India,” quoted by senior officials of BCCI to TOI.

However, the BCCI has set up six urban areas available to purchase as well — Guwahati, Ranchi, Cuttack (all East), Ahmedabad (West), Lucknow (Central Zone) and Dharamsala (North). As far as the second phase of the Indian Premier League is concerned, it will begin soon in the UAE.

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While the Delhi Capitals finished at the top, MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings are placed at second and Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore are in third place before the game was suspended in May when the COVID-19 hit the camp in different parts of the country as well.