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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to allow spectators to watch the third T20I match between India and West Indies which will be played at the Eden Gardens stadium on February 20. Owing to the pandemic, the entry of fans were restricted forcing the matches to be played behind closed doors.
"As discussed with other office bearers, as per your request, you can open up for the last T20 match against West Indies at Eden," BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wrote in an e-mail to CAB chief Avishek Dalmiya.
With this only the complimentary tickets will be issued by CAB to its members and affiliated units.
"We are extremely thankful to BCCI for their kind consideration. This consent of the Board would help CAB meet its obligations to Life Associate, Annual and honorary members for the 20th February match," Dalmiya said.
For the first two T20Is on Wednesday and Friday, around 2000 plus fans have been allowed in the corporate boxes and the upper tier of Dr BC Roy Club House.
The match passes for first two games are exclusively for sponsors' representatives. The preceding three-match ODI series in Ahmedabad was played in an open stadium.
India's next series against Sri Lanka beginning in Lucknow with the first T20I on February 24 will be held in an open stadium as of now. But it remains to be seen if the Board allows spectators after it opens up the gates at Eden Gardens for the third T20I against the Windies.
CAB president Dalmia and secretary Snehasish Ganguly on Tuesday confirmed that the state body has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow spectators to watch the finale of the T20I series between India and West Indies from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Dalmiya, speaking to India Today, had said that the first two matches of the 3-match T20I series will be played without spectators at the iconic venue, adding that the BCCI took the call, keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation.
"We all want spectators to come and watch the cricket. We all want it to be normal again, like how we were used to in our childhood. But unfortunately, because of the Covid situation, BCCI wants to focus on the safety of the cricketers and that's why they have taken this decision to keep these matches spectator-free," Avishek had said.
Earlier in February, the West Bengal government allowed 75 percent capacity for indoor and outdoor sports activities. However, after hosting the ODI series in Ahmedabad in front of empty stands, the BCCI has gone ahead with the decision to not have spectators at Eden Garden as well.
