The revamped Wankhede Stadium, venue of the cricket World Cup's summit clash on April 2, is all geared up and ready to host its first international encounter in more than three-and-a-half years, said Mumbai Cricket Association official Lalchand Rajput on Friday.
"We have got the Occupancy Certificate and we are all set to host the World Cup matches," said MCA's joint-secretary Lalchand Rajput, ahead of the New Zealand-Canada Group A encounter on Sunday.
The stadium, which now sports a cantilevered roof and underwent a Rs 300-crore makeover since mid-2008, last hosted an international match in October 2007, when India clashed with Australia in an ODI fixture.
The entire central square of the playing arena has been relaid. But with bucket seats installed in all stands, the stadium's capacity has also been reduced from 38,000 to 31,000.
Rajput said the MCA has decided to issue complimentary match tickets to school children, including those who study in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run institutions, for the first two ties at this venue.
"We will distribute 3,000 such tickets, including 1,000 tickets to children from the BMC-run schools," he said.
After the New Zealand-Canada game on March 13, Wankhede will host another Group A game, between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on March 18, prior to the April 2 final, which is expected to witness a full gallery.
