Rohit Bhandiye
International cricket matches have not been held been in Goa since last 16 years. The last ODI match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Fatorda was held on 24 October 2010 between India and Australia. But that game was a washout due to soggy outfield. So, the last full-fledged ODI match in Goa took place on 14 February 2007 between India and Sri Lanka.
So, it has been nearly two decades since Goans have been deprived of international cricket.
However, come December 2026, there is some hope for the cricket-loving masses of Goa. According to Goa Cricket Association President Mahesh Desai, they have got all the required permissions and that the ball is now in Government’s court to lay the foundation stone for the new cricket stadium in Goa.
“Cricket stadium is the need of the hour in Goa. We have got all the required funds and permissions to construct a new international cricket stadium in Goa either at Maulinguem or Dhargalim. We are waiting for the government to give us green signal. Now, the ball is in government’s court, “ Mahesh Desai, President, Goa Cricket Association told The Goan.
Desai further added, “See for any stadium in Goa, we require government support. Now all the necessary permissions from Goa Cricket Association are ready. But, permission from government is still pending. There are no issues from our side. We are waiting for the green signal from them. Our honourable Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has assured us that he will do it before December. The foundation stone will be laid before December, either Maulinguem or Dhargalim.”
Desai informed that there were some encroachments in the land at Maulinguem and Dhargalim which has been cleared now and that due to lack of permission from the government, the delay had happened in the construction of the stadium.
But, Rohan Gauns Dessai, former secretary, Goa Cricket Association and former joint secretary, BCCI has a different take on this.
“Initially, Goa Cricket Association purchased the land at Maulinguem for about 40 crores more than a decade ago in order construct the cricket stadium. But that project got scrapped as government wanted to construct the stadium at Dhargalim which was supposed to be developed as a sports city. So, in spite of purchasing the land at Maulinguem, GCA could not go ahead with the project. The land at Dhargalim has been given on a 10-year lease to GCA which is a government land. Also, there were lot of issues regarding the land at Dhargalim like NOC from electricity department, construction license needed to be taken. If all these and other issues are now resolved by the GCA then it is well and good, “ Rohan Gauns Dessai said.
Rohan further went on to add, “During my tenure, there were two factions. Chetan (Desai) versus Balu (Phadke). So, Balu wanted one place. Chetan wanted to do something else. There was no unity among the clubs. And being a secretary, I also could not manage them. I tried my level best to get them along, but finally they got along and ousted me.”
With GCA still struggling to construct a cricket stadium in Goa since last 16 years, Kamla Prasad Yadav, Sarpanch, Chicalim village constructed a private cricket stadium named 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium at Verna in 2025 within a span of just two years. The stadium has a seating capacity of 5,000 and was inaugurated by former India captain Surya Kumar Yadav in September 2025.
Yadav said, “We built a cricket stadium at Verna within 2-3 years at a cost of 45 crore. Through Investment Promotion Board (IPB), we have got clearance for a full-fledged stadium of 25,000 to 30,000 capacity. Depending upon our budget, we shall go ahead into increasing the seating capacity of the stadium and also create a cricket academy with a hotel facility within the same sports complex. We hosted the Legends Pro T20 League at this venue earlier this year in January – February which involved around 90 former international cricketers. Now, we shall be hosting the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) in December 2026. Sachin Tendulkar is the core committee member of the league and Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn are the team owners.”
Now, the ball is in Goa government’s court. It needs to be seen whether the foundation stone of the new international cricket stadium in Goa will be laid in the month of December 2026 or not. We will come to know about it only in the next three months.
