Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up to host the prestigious Irani Cup for the first time, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) putting in place an extensive broadcast operation for the five-day encounter between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India at the JKCA ground in Srinagar from October 1 to 5.
A nodal officer from BCCI, overseeing television production and broadcast operations for the game said preparations for the historic assignment were progressing, with the infrastructure at the venue being upgraded to meet broadcast requirements.
The official said the BCCI team had visited the venue twice to assess the facilities and identify infrastructure gaps before sending a detailed list of requirements to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
“Initially, we visited two times and assessed the facilities. The broadcast control room, which is required to control the broadcast, was not there. We assessed everything, prepared a list and sent the requirements. They worked on it and prepared a lot of things. A few things are pending, which I believe will be completed next week,” the official said.
The broadcast operation for the Irani Cup will involve around 20 cameras, besides DRS and Hawkeye technology, stump microphones, graphics, scoring and connectivity systems.
According to the official, the setup will include three cameras each on the near-side and far-side gantries, along with slip cameras, spin-vision cameras and six Hawkeye cameras for the DRS system.
“Domestic cricket is covered with around 20 cameras, while an international match can have around 40 to 50 cameras. The basic concept remains the same, though there are some differences and innovations,” the official said.
The BCCI official said the JKCA had shown considerable enthusiasm and cooperation in meeting the technical requirements for the broadcast.
While acknowledging that infrastructure presented initial challenges, the official said the JKCA had responded positively and that the required preparations were now taking shape.
The match will also be available to audiences beyond the stadium through live television and digital broadcast, with the official confirming that the game will be shown live on JioHotstar and Star Sports.
“I want our people to come and watch the match. This is live broadcast on JioHotstar and Star Sports. So enjoy the game,” he said.
The BCCI official, who is handling the broadcast operations for the assignment, said he was personally excited about bringing more cricket coverage to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Irani Cup will be followed by a Ranji Trophy first-round league match involving JKCA and Madhya Pradesh, giving the venue another major opportunity to host televised domestic cricket.
