BCCI Likely to Allow 50 Percent Crowd During India vs England Tests
The BCCI is believed to be taking a cue from Cricket Australia which had allowed entry of spectators during the India series that concluded on Tuesday.
A piece of good news is coming for Cricket fans in India. Top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are considering allowing 50 per cent spectators of the stadium’s total capacity to enter the Test matches against England at Chepauk and the newly constructed Motera Stadium.
The first two Tests will be held in Chennai, beginning on February 5, while the next two will be played at the renovated stadium at Motera in Ahmedabad.
Some of the state associations have planned to allow only 20 -25 per cent crowd capacity at their stadiums.
The BCCI is believed to be taking a cue from Cricket Australia which had allowed entry of spectators during the India series that concluded on Tuesday.
“As of now, we are likely to allow 50 percent spectators for the four Test matches. The BCCI is in talks with both state cricket associations (TNCA and GCA) and also state health authorities,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
At the same time, the BCCI is also considering the fluid public health situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and if the caseload in either Chennai or Ahmedabad increases, then the decision will change accordingly.
“If you allow 50 percent crowd with all necessary precautions, then it will be an indicator if we can also allow spectators during IPL in India,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board will select the team for the first two Tests on Thursday. For the first time, the team is not being announced for the entire series keeping in mind the workload of the players. Two separate bio-bubbles (safe environment to protect from Corona) will be created in Chennai and Ahmedabad and the teams will travel by chartered flight.
