Ensuing India vs England ODI at Barabati to go cashless

Cuttack: The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today decided to go cashless for the ensuing India vs England ODI on January 19 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

Following a crucial meeting of the Odisha Cricket Association council here, OCA Secretary Ashirbad Behera informed all payments of the State cricket body above Rs 500 against bills from different parties during the forthcoming India vs England ODI would be made through bank cheque, draft and RTGS.

Regarding sale of tickets for the India vs England match, Behera said, “Spectators can get two tickets each for the stadium gallery to watch the ODI by paying cash up to Rs 2,000. But high-valued tickets will be sold after payment is made through swipe machine, RTGS or bank draft."

Besides, ticket purchase can be done through e-wallet payment.

Out of the three counters of the Barabati Stadium, Counter 2 and 3 will be selling gallery tickets, the OCA secretary said.

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At the same time, the OCA affiliated agencies will collect tickets after submitting bank cheque or draft to the State Bank of India (SBI) counter to be set up at the OCA conference hall, Behera informed.

Replying a query on how the cashless decision will help spectators, Behera said, "To help in simplifying the ticket purchase process for affiliated agencies and ease trouble in arranging currency notes, this cashless thing will help a lot at the time when there is a scarcity of cash in the market following the demonetisation. Today's decision is also a step in the direction towards implementing the cashless plans of the Prime Minister."

The OCA also decided to sell 25% of total tickets through online platforms. During the last match, the cricket body had allocated 10% of total tickets for online sale. Total 42,000 tickets for the forthcoming India vs England ODI will be available for spectators to buy, he added.

Also read: Eng-Ind ODI: No water bottles inside Barabati stadium

The OCA secretary informed online sale of ticket for the India vs England ODI will be on January 2 whereas the OCA affiliated agencies will sell ticket on January 14 and 15. Tickets at the counters of the Barabati Stadium will be available on January 16 and 17.

Regarding security measures, the OCA secretary said 132 CCTV cameras will be set up in and out of the Barabati Stadium for the ODI match.

The India vs England ODI on January 19 has been insured for a sum of Rs 21 crore, Behera further stated.