Perth: Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) chairman Tuck Waldron expressed his displeasure after the stadium in Perth was overlooked for hosting a Test against India later this year.
The four Tests of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played at Gabba, Adelaide Oval, MCG and SCG respectively starting December 3.
“I’m really disappointed in this decision, I think it is the wrong decision. I just can’t understand why they’d make that decision,” Waldron told reporters in Perth as per cricket.com.au.
“It’s a kick in the guts to WA, to all our cricket-loving people and to our WACA members. “When you’ve got one of the best stadiums in the world and the second-best cricket venue in the world, the time-slots back to India for TV, etcetera; to me it’s a no-brainer,” he added. Perth will instead host the historic Test between Australia and Afghanistan starting November 21. Afghanistan have never played a Test Down Under and it will be a momentous occasion for the minnows who acquired Test status only in 2018.
“We have a duty to the cricket fans here, to Afghanistan as a visitor to our state, to ensure we provide the best possible facilities and enjoyment for them as we possibly can,” WACA chief executive Christina Matthews said. “Let’s not forget, it is a history-making Test – they’ve never played Test cricket in Australia so once again, Western Australia will be part of history. “We will continue to demonstrate how well we do those things, but when we see India fly across the top of us to the other side of the country, we might shed a little tear,” she added. (IANS)
