The DY Patil Stadium will host the Mumbai-Gujarat tie from December 29-January 1 © AFP Enlarge
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The Dr DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host its first Ranji Trophy tie this season, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed. Owing to the unavailability of the Wankhede Stadium, the four-year old stadium in Navi Mumbai, on which only IPL matches have been played, is scheduled to host the Mumbai-Gujarat game from December 29 to January 1, 2013.

"The Wankhede will host Indian universities' biggest congress and hence the stadium won't be available. The managing committee has decided to allocate the Mumbai-Gujarat tie to DY Patil Stadium. The rest of the matches will be held at the Wankhede Stadium," MCA secretary Nitin Dalal told DNA.

Seventeen matches have been played at the stadium since its inauguration in 2008. It has been home to the Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers in 2010, and Pune Warriors in 2011. The last game played there was the Pune Warriors-Kolkata Knight Riders IPL fixture on May 19 last year.

"It is a good opportunity for cricket lovers in the suburbs to watch quality cricket," Vijay Patil, president of DY Patil Sports Academy and MCA vice-president, said.