Pune cricket stadium to be named after Subrata Roy Sahara

Mumbai, Feb 5 (PTI) The new cricket stadium being builtby the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) on the outskirtsof Pune is to be named after Subrata Roy Sahara, the Chairmanand Managing Worker of the Sahara Group.

This was announced at a function in Pune today by thePresident of the International Cricket Council (ICC), SharadPawar, a media release said here.

Originally, the stadium was proposed to be named afterSahara India Group, but since the rules did not permit namingof the stadium after any corporate brand or company, MCAdecided to name it after Roy, according to the release.

Sahara had successfully outbid two other interestedparties to get the naming rights for the stadium and otherrights when the MCA issued an advertisement to this effect,the release said.

As per the deal with MCA, Sahara will have naming rightsfor the stadium in perpetuity and build an ultra modern clubwith 40 rooms at their own cost. The Lucknow-based corporategroup will get rights to sell the club''s membership.

Pune Warriors, the new IPL team, owned by Sahara Group,will make the stadium their base and home ground, it added.

Work on the project started in 2007 after MCA locateda suitable land at Gahunje, alongside the expresswayconnecting Pune and Mumbai.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) initially assisted theproject by increasing the grant for the stadium to Rs 50 crorewhen Pawar was the BCCI President.