Net practice in session at Azad Maidan

Azad Maidan (formerly known as Bombay Gymkhana Maidan[1]) is a triangular-shaped maidan (sports ground) in the city of Mumbai, India.[2] It is located on 25 acres (10 ha) of land near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station.[3] It is a regular venue for inter-school cricket matches. The name Azad means "liberty" in Persian.[4] The ground is known for its cricket pitches,[4] for protest meetings,[5] and for political rallies.[6] The Bombay Gymkhana clubhouse was built in 1875, at the southern end of the maidan.[7]

History

The vast expanses of land of the Oval Maidan, Azad Maidan, Cooperage Ground and Cross Maidan until the early 20th century formed the area known as Esplanade.[8]

Mahatma Gandhi addressed the largest ever political meeting at Azad Maidan in December 1931.[9]

Part of the site will be closed in 2015 to allow for construction of a station on Line 3 of the Mumbai Metro.[3]

Cricket

The ground hosts twenty-two cricket pitches.[10] The cricket pitches at the ground have produced many international cricketers. On 20 November 2013, Prithvi Shaw created history with 546 runs and in 1987 Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli shared a huge 664 run record partnership during a Harris Shield school match at Azad Maidan.[11] In 2009, Sarfaraz Khan scored 439 runs in a Harris Shield match at Azad Maidan.[12] Azad Maidan plays host to a number of cricket matches throughout the year, including Inter-School and Club matches.

See also

References

  1. ^ Wadia, J. B. H. (1983). M.N. Roy, the man: an incomplete Royana. Popular Prakashan. pp. 116. ISBN 81-7154-246-8.
  2. ^ "In cricket crazy Mumbai". The Hindu. 27 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b Phadke, Manasi. "Part of Azad Maidan to be briefly closed next year for Metro work". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b Bose, Mihir (2006). The magic of Indian cricket: cricket and society in India. Routledge. p. 124. ISBN 0-415-35691-1.
  5. ^ Mahadevia, Darshini (2008). Inside the transforming urban Asia: processes, policies and public actions. Concept Publishing Company. p. 572. ISBN 81-8069-574-3.
  6. ^ "No ground for Kanga matches". Daily News and Analysis. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  7. ^ Sharada Dwivedi; Rahul Mehrotra (2001). Bombay: the cities within. Eminence Designs Pvt. Ltd. p. 112. ISBN 81-900602-6-0.
  8. ^ Kelly Shannon, Janina Gosseye (2009). Reclaiming (the urbanism of) Mumbai Volume 3 of Explorations in/of urbanism. SUN Academia. p. 125. ISBN 90-8506-694-8.
  9. ^ Haridas T. Muzumdar, Will Durant (2005). Gandhi Versus the Empire. Kessinger Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 1-4179-9043-0.
  10. ^ "Mumbai's maidans may soon vanish". Gulf Times. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Tendulkar rewinds time at the Bombay Gymkhana". ESPNCricinfo. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  12. ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sarfaraz-khan-an-azad-maidan-wunderkind-comes-of-age/story-QxHoCzpGQ9NTmmSuAwbezM.html

18°56′25″N 72°49′54″E / 18.940278°N 72.831667°E / 18.940278; 72.831667


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