Three stands have remained closed since 2012 at Chepauk. © Getty

There is some hope that the long-standing issue of three empty stands at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai might be resolved in the near future, with the lease of the stadium now being extended.

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, in a media release on Thursday (December 12), stated that the local government extended the lease of the stadium for 21 years, adding that there is now a possibility "to begin the process of regularising the setback at the stadium which will lead to the reopening of the sealed I, J and K stands."

Several high-profile matches, including the matches of the World T20 in 2016 and the IPL 2019 final, could not be hosted at Chepauk due to the non-availability of the three stands. The three stands have remained closed since 2012, except for an India-Pakistan game, because the construction is not in line with the guidelines laid down by the Chennai Corporation. The three stands make for as many as 12,000 seats.

Chennai is set to host the first ODI between India and the West Indies on December 15.