A two-oval cricket complex is taking shape in Indonesia‘s Desa Sanggalangit, Kecamatan Gerokgak, Buleleng, North Bali, on roughly five hectares of land. Named the Bali International Oval, the facility is intended to function throughout the year for both elite competition and high-performance player development.
Ground work is already under way. Both oval footprints have been marked out, and centre-wicket blocks are taking shape. Construction will next move into wicket maturation, surface refinement, and drainage and irrigation work before the grounds are ready for use.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the initiative traces its origins to the Asian Cricket Council Annual General Meeting held in Bali in January 2024, at which Indonesia received formal membership of the ACC. Abhiram Singh Yadav, chairman of Cricket Indonesia, described the moment as one that carried obligations beyond the membership itself.
“When the ACC came to Bali in 2024, the message I took away was bigger than membership. Inclusive leadership had opened a pathway for Indonesia. I felt our responsibility was to build the infrastructure that would allow our players to use that opportunity for generations,” Yadav was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
What facilities will the Bali International Oval complex offer?
The complex will house the Garuda National Cricket Academy, which will serve as the dedicated high-performance centre for Indonesia’s senior and age-group squads across the calendar year. The academy is designed to consolidate training, sports science, coach education, athlete recovery and tournament operations within a single site.
Cricket Indonesia sees the venue as a potential regional hub for the Asia-Pacific, with the aim of drawing international teams and development programmes to Bali. The organisation believes that concentrating these functions in one location will strengthen the sport’s foundations across the wider region, not only within Indonesia itself.
Which events are planned for the Bali International Oval?
Cricket Indonesia has framed the project around a longer-term ambition tied to cricket’s return to the Olympic Games. The organisation believes that a permanent, high-quality facility in Bali can create a credible Olympic pathway for young Indonesian players while also attracting international teams and development programmes to the region.
“The Olympic return changes the imagination of cricket. A young Indonesian should be able to dream not only of international cricket, but of an Olympic pathway. Our infrastructure must be ready for that era,” Yadav said, outlining the vision.
The facility is projected to stage the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier for the East Asia-Pacific region in May 2027. It is also expected to serve as a venue for the Bali Provincial Sports Week, known locally as Porprov Bali, in the same year. Both events would mark the complex’s first major competitive outings and establish its credentials as a multi-purpose international venue.
