Cuttack: The Team India and England teams will arrive in Bhubaneswar on January 18 for the second One Day international scheduled to be held at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on January 19, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) said today.
“As decided, both the teams were scheduled to check in at Hotel Mayfair in Bhubaneswar on January 17. But as no room accommodation in the hotel was available, the BCCI, after a talk with the hotel manager has confirmed that the teams will arrive in Bhubaneswar in a chartered flight at 1.30 PM on the next day on January 18. I hope that the teams after their arrival will have a practice session at Barabati stadium in the afternoon,” OCA secretary Asirbad Behera told media persons here.
Talking about the arrangements made for the match, he said the capacity of the Barabati Stadium which was around 45,500 earlier has been reduced to 43,500 this year as OCA has decided to mark the seats with number in the galleries for the convenience of the spectators. “The spectator will sit at the allotted number which has been mentioned in the ticket. To help the spectators, OCA will engage volunteers to help them locate the number marked in the gallery,” he added.
Behera also informed that the sale of online ticket, which was 10-12 percent in the previous T20 match between India and South Africa last year, will be increased to 20 percent for the ensuing ODI. Out of a total of 32,403 tickets, 8310 tickets will be sold online while 10, 362 tickets will be given to all the affiliated units of OCA. The tickets to the affiliated units would be given at the OCA conference hall inside Barabati Stadium premises. For sale of tickets, officials of the State Bank of India (SBI) will be engaged.
“For the first time, we are trying to introduce cashless transaction for the sale of tickets. The price of the ticket for the gallery has been kept below Rs 2000. The price for Gallery No-1 and 3 is Rs 600 followed by Rs 500 for Gallery No-2 and 4, Rs 400 for Gallery No-6 and 7, Rs 200 for Gallery No-6 (Players’ concession only for affiliated units), Rs 3000 for Special Enclosure, Rs 5000 for New Pavilion, Rs 8000 for Corporate Box and Rs 5000 for A/C Box (Gallery No-4). As we will provide a maximum two tickets per person, we will receive cash less than Rs 2000. However, collection of money for the tickets valued at Rs 2000 and above will be received through drafts of card swipe machines. Besides, cash from the OCA’s affiliating units will be collected through card swipe machines or drafts in favour of Odisha Cricket Association. These units can collect tickets from the banks after producing OCA requisition slips,” Behera informed.
He said the online sale of tickets will begin from January 2 on www.get2thegames.com while tickets for the OCA affiliated units would sold on January 14 and 15. For the general spectators, tickets would be sold at the three counters of the stadium on January 16 and 17.
Referring to the unsavoury incident that took place during T20 match between South Africa and India on October 5 last year, the OCA secretary said it has been decided that no spectator will be allowed to carry water bottle, water pouches and fruits inside the stadium. Sufficient number of taps has been installed in all the stands to provide drinking water to the spectators. In addition to this, arrangements have been made to keep minimum 5 water jars in every stand with disposable glasses. As an extra precautionary measure, to protect the ground from throwing any objects, nets have
been erected in all the stands.
As regards food, sufficient number of food stalls will be installed in every stand. The price of the food item will be very reasonable as decided in the RDC preparatory meeting, Behera said.
“We have also requested the people not to bring other articles like transistor, mirror, bugle, crackers, glass, helmets etc. Throwing any objects in or on the ground is strictly prohibited. Persons found doing so, will be handed over to the police,” he pointed out.
Talking about security measures, Behera said 64 CCTV camera and four high resolution moving CCTV cameras will be installed inside the stadium to keep watch on the activities of the spectators. “Besides, four fire brigade units will be stationed at the different locations of the stadium. There will be adequate number of fire extinguishers will also be installed inside the stadium,” the OCA secretary said.