BCCI shifts 3rd India-Australia Test to Hyderabad

Mumbai, Dec 28: The BCCI on Friday shifted the third match of the upcoming India-Australia Test series from Kanpur to Hyderabad, citing construction work at the original venue which was criticized for being under-prepared by a Cricket Australia inspection team.

"The Tour, Programme and Fixtures Committee of the BCCI has decided to shift the third Test of the forthcoming AIRTEL Test series between India and Australia from the Green Park, Kanpur to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. This change is as per the rotation policy of the Board," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

"The change was necessitated because the ongoing construction activity at the Green Park, Kanpur, would not have been completed in time for the Test," Jagdale added.

The BCCI's decision came after a Cricket Australia inspection team expressed dissatisfaction with Green Park's facilities.

"Neither the ACA or Cricket Australia is keen on playing in Kanpur. We've made that known to the BCCI (Indian board) but we haven't received a definitive response yet," the Australian Cricketers' Association chief Paul Marsh had stated.

"The change-room facilities are not up to international standard and there are various issues with the outfield and the pitch. The main thing is there are certain facilities they haven't got that we would expect to be in place for international cricket," Paul added.

India will take on Australia in a four-match Test series, and the other three matches will be played in New Delhi, Mohali and Chennai.

The revised match-schedule is as follows:

First Test -- Delhi (February 22 to 26)
Second Test -- Mohali (March 2 to 6)
Third Test -- Hyderabad (March 14 to 18)
Fourth Test -- Chennai (March 22 to 26).