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The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) honoured Indian wicketkeeper batter KS Bharat ahead of the second against England at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Thursday, February 1. The player was felicitated as he became the only second cricketer from the state to play a Test match at home ground. Not only this, but he is also the only third player from the state to have played Tests for India after MSK Prasad, Hanuman Vihari.
Born in Vishakhapatnam, Bharat began training with the Andhra domestic team at the young age of 11. He was also one of the ball boys during the ODI match between India and Pakistan at the ACA VDCA Stadium in 2005. Earlier, the ACA secretary Gopinath Reddy told Cricketnext.com, “Yes, we have planned a felicitation ceremony for Bharat. It will happen here in the stadium itself on the Upper Floor of the South Stand.
He added, “We requested a time for 2nd Feb, but the Indian Team management has given time for the 1st so we will be doing the felicitation on Thursday.”
ACA VDCA to offer free tickets to school and college students
The ACA Chief confirmed that almost 2000 school students will be offered free tickets for the match. As per Reddy, “We have allocated 2000 tickets in the K Stand to college students and school students who will be in their uniforms or show their identity card. We have also planned to hand out more than 2500 tickets each day for the cricketers who are playing for club cricket across our five districts.”
Earlier during the series opener, school students were given free tickets at the Hyderabad Stadium. Notably, the ACA VDCA Cricket Stadium has a capacity of 29,000, and it will be hosting its third-ever Test match.
