Xtra Time Web Desk: Ranganathan Parameswaran Easwaran will be one of the happiest man when he see his son Abhimanyu lead Bengal in a ground named after him. It is a rare thing to be happening in Indian cricket where an active uncapped cricketer will be playing at his own ground.
Come January 3, when Bengal take on hosts Uttarakhand in a Ranji Trophy Group B encounter, Abhimanyu, who was recently part of India test squad in Bangladesh, will be playing a first-class match at the ‘Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Stadium’.
While stadiums named after legendary cricketers post retirement is quite common but there aren’t too many examples where an active Indian uncapped first-class cricketer was going to ply his trade on a cricket stadium named after him.
Whether the Viv Richards ground in Antigua, Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba (Trinidad & Tobago) or Allan Border field in Brisbane, the grounds and stadiums were rechristened once the legends finished their illustrious careers.
In that regard, Abhimanyu playing at ‘Abhimanyu Cricket Academy’ is indeed a special occasion for both father and son.
The picturesque ground also has floodlights, has been adopted by the BCCI for some years now with a lot of domestic matches (senior, junior, women and age-group) being held but never before has the owner of the stadium himself played a first-class game.