Kotla decks up with floodlight

AT AROUND 12.45pm on Wednesday, the Ferozeshah Kotla witnessed the first steps towards becoming a stadium capable of hosting day-night cricket. The first of four floodlight towers was installed on Wednesday morning, while another was scheduled to be put up later at night. All four towers are expected to be installed by March 29.

The lights, which are being installed by American company General Electric (GE), will be first tested in a trial match between the Delhi Ranji cricketers and the Delhi IPL franchisee, Delhi Daredevils.

"We have scheduled a trial game, tentatively for April 12, when the lights will be tested for the first time in a match," said DDCA secretary SP Bansal told Hindustan Times. The lights that have been put up at the Kotla are the only ones in India, which meet ICC's new specifications.

"The lights produce an output of 2,200 lux, which is what the ICC has set as the benchmark for all grounds," Bansal added. "We are the only ground in the country where the lights meet the specifications." The Kotla will host four day-night IPL matches, as well as a day-nighter between India and England this year.

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