Indonesia developing Bali International Oval as flagship cricket venue

Cricket Indonesia is developing the Bali International Oval (BIO) in North Bali, a two-oval complex that is set to become the country's flagship venue for international cricket and high-performance training.

The project, which features two full-sized turf ovals, is being built as a year-round facility rather than one used only for tournaments. The Garuda National Cricket Academy will operate as the high-performance centre within the complex, serving as a training base for Indonesia's senior and age-group teams and hosting visiting international teams, academies, coaches and curators.

Both oval footprints have been established and the centre-wicket blocks are taking shape. The next phase will include wicket maturation, surface refinement, drainage and irrigation work, as well as the installation of specialist ground machinery and development of high-performance, team and broadcast facilities.

Cricket Indonesia also sees BIO as a potential high-performance hub for the Asia-Pacific, bringing training, sports science, coach education, athlete recovery and tournament operations together at one venue.

The project was inspired in part by the Asian Cricket Council Annual General Meeting in Bali in January 2024, when Indonesia was formally welcomed into the ACC family. Jay Shah, then ACC President, played a key role in the proceedings.

“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,” says Abhiram Singh Yadav, chairman of Cricket Indonesia.

BIO is being developed as Indonesia looks to capitalise on cricket's wider global expansion, including the sport's return to the Olympic Games. Cricket Indonesia hopes the facility can help create an Olympic pathway for young Indonesian players while attracting international teams and programmes to Bali.

“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 says.

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