India vs SA T20 at Barabati Stadium on Dec 9; Odisha CM directs OCA, others for ‘zero-error’

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and state administration to ensure the flawless hosting of the upcoming India–South Africa T20 International, scheduled to be played at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on December 9.

Calling the event a matter of Odisha’s prestige, the Chief Minister said the match will draw national and international attention and must be conducted without any lapses.

CM Calls For Zero-Error Management

Sources reported that CM Majhi held a review meeting with concerned officials at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar today. In his address, he instructed OCA and the district administration to coordinate closely for crowd control, ticket distribution, emergency medical arrangements, and uninterrupted power supply.

Reports stated that the CM ordered that every aspect, from lighting and logistics to crowd management, must be handled meticulously.

Sources further reported that as part of the preparations, additional generator sets will be deployed at Barabati to prevent any power failure during the night match.

A new monitoring software system will also be installed to supervise lighting and other critical operations in real time. Meanwhile, stadium authorities have been asked to double-check all electrical and safety mechanisms before the event.

It is also learnt that the OCA will reportedly prioritise online ticket sales. Necessary logistics and arrangements in that regard are expected to be detailed soon.

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Barabati Eager For International Comeback

Barabati Stadium has faced embarrassment in the past due to technical and crowd-management failures.

During the India–England T20 match in February this year, floodlights went off mid-game, halting play for nearly 30 minutes. Earlier, in 2015, a T20 against South Africa saw chaotic scenes when irate fans threw water bottles onto the field after India’s batting collapse.

The latter incident led to widespread criticism and a temporary suspension of international fixtures at the venue.

Keeping these incidents in view, the government is expected to take extra precautions this time, with officials being asked to carry out multiple mock drills to test the systems.

It is worth noting that the December 9 fixture will mark Barabati Stadium’s return to the international spotlight after a gap of several months, as well as the return of South Africa to Cuttack after several years.