Watch: Shocking visuals of Moin-Ul-Haq stadium in Patna; Venue for Ranji Trophy 2023-24 match between Mumbai and Bihar

Mumbai and Bihar Ranji Trophy 2023-24 match got underway at the venue on January 5.

Ahead of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24 match between Bihar and Mumbai on January 5, 2024, shocking visuals were shared of the venue at which the match is being played. The venue for this crucial clash is the Moin-Ul-Haq stadium in Patna, Bihar.

The stadium is located in Rajendra Nagar, Patna, the capital city of Bihar. It is the home ground of Bihar Ranji Team. It is a multi-purpose stadium which is used for both cricket and football. The highest point of the stadium was hosting Zimbabwe vs Kenya match of the 1996 World Cup tournament and two more international matches.

The stadium was previously known as Rajendra Nagar Stadium. It was renamed in 1970 after the death of icon Moin-ul-Haq, who was general secretary of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

He was also India’s chef-de-mission of Indian Olympic contingent in 1948 to London and in 1952 to Helsinki, and one of the founding vice-presidents along with KAD Naoroji of Bihar Cricket Association, in the year 1936.

Despite being one of the best stadiums of its time, the venue has been neglected by both Bihar Cricket Association and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to an ongoing issue. Bihar only regained its Ranji status some time back as they lost the right to play in the domestic tournament. This was because of the state of Jharkhand being carved out of Bihar.

No proper seating, no cleanliness shocks visitors at Moin-Ul-Haq stadium in Bihar

After the 1996 World Cup, BCCI did not allot any international matches to the venue. And with Bihar government and cricket association neglecting the ground, the state-of-the-art stadium has fallen into a sad state.

A video on social media showed the state of the venue with no cleanliness and space for visitors to sit and watch Mumbai v Bihar Ranji Trophy match. Shoddy stands, dirty stairs and a poor outfield mark the once-good venue.

Watch the video here:

In 2013, it was announced by the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar that an international cricket stadium would be constructed at Rajgir, Nalanda district, and Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Patliputra Sports Complex’s indoor stadium would go for renovations.

But a decade since that announcement, no development has happened.

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