The Japan Cricket Association announced on Wednesday the first steps toward building an international standard ground in Tochigi Prefecture, the first such ground in the country.
A day after the Sano City Council passed a bill that will officially change the name of the site which used to be Tanuma High School to Sano International Cricket Ground, the JCA outlined the importance of the decision in a press release, saying that "the significance of this is considerable. For the first time Japan now has a dedicated cricketing venue built for purpose which no longer has to compete with other sports for usage."
Sano has long been regarded as the center for Japanese cricket and hosted the Pakistan Women's A Team in 2013 as well as the six-team East Asia Pacific Trophy the following year.