Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata, Feb 1: From February 16, the Eden Gardens will be able to accommodate up to 75% of its capacity for the three-match T20I series between India and the West Indies. According to the West Bengal government, the site can accommodate 75 percent of the capacity for all indoor and outdoor sports activities.
“All indoor and outdoor sports activities will be allowed with 75 per cent of the capacity of the venue,” said the West Bengal government.
The T20I matches are expected to draw roughly 50,000 spectators, with a full-strength Indian team managed by Rohit Sharma facing a Kieron Pollard-led West Indies team, who will play three ODIs in Ahmedabad beginning February 6 before flying to Kolkata.
Meanwhile, Avishek Dalmiya, president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, hailed the West Bengal government for allowing supporters to attend the T20I series. Last year, Kolkata hosted the third T20I of New Zealand’s tour of India, with Eden Gardens packed to the rafters.
“We are thankful to the honourable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, chief secretary and Government of West Bengal for announcing the resumption of sporting activities as well as for allowing 75 per cent of the capacity of spectators back to the stadium,” said Avishek in a statement.
CAB is convinced that, like the New Zealand T20I last year, it will be able to host the three T20Is against the West Indies in a similar fashion this time.”
West Indies were scheduled to play three ODIs in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Kolkata, as well as three T20Is in Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram, according to the original itinerary. The BCCI, however, has chosen to hold the white-ball series in only two cities: Ahmedabad and Kolkata, due to an increase in Covid-19 instances across the country in the last month.
India will be headed by Rohit Sharma, with KL Rahul, who led India to victory in the ODI series against South Africa, as his deputy. Virat Kohli, the former captain, is also a member of the group, which has a good balance of youth and experience.
Notably, Rohit and his team arrived in Ahmedabad for the ODI series on Monday evening.
