A day after cricket fans across the globe expressed their happiness over the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL), cricket enthusiast back in Odisha got their bit to cheer on Monday following announcement that a T20 match between India and West Indies will be played at Cuttack’s Barabati stadium next year.
The upcoming T20 match between India and West Indies will be played at Barabati stadium on February 15, 2022, informed the secretary of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), Sanjay Behera.
It is after a gap of almost three years that the solitary cricket stadium in Odisha will be hosting any international cricket match. The last one-day international (ODI) was played at Barabati in 2019.
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Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) officials said that Barabati stadium was picked as a venue to host the T20 match during the apex council meeting of the BCCI held in Dubai today.
Senior OCA officials had earlier requested BCCI president, Saurav Ganguly to allow matches to be played at Barabati which has not hosted any international match since a long time.
The BCCI has asked OCA to make the necessary preparations for the T20 match. OCA officials said already the process to prepare a new pitch and outfield is underway at Barabati stadium.
Similarly all requisite infrastructure required to host the international match at the stadium will be augmented accordingly.
On being asked whether spectators will be allowed inside the stadium or the T20 match will be held with some restrictions in view of Covid, OCA officials said, “Whatever directions related to Covid-19 pandemic situation are issued will be duly followed.”