Lucknow, Kolkata ODIs vs S Africa to be Held in Empty Stadiums

Only TV crew, commentators & journalists will be allowed inside the stadium, apart from the players & support staff.

The first ODI between India and South Africa was washed out without a ball being bowled in Dharamshala.

(Photo: BCCI)

The remaining two one-dayers between India and South Africa will be played in empty stadiums in Lucknow and Kolkata due to the dreaded novel coronavirus pandemic.

The matches are scheduled to be held in March 15 (Lucknow) and March 18 (Kolkata).

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been working closely with the Government of India along with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in the wake of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak,” said BCCI in a statement.

“After holding discussions with the MYAS and MOHFW, the BCCI on Thursday announced that the remaining two One-day Internationals (ODIs) of the three-match series of South Africa tour of India, 2020, will be played without any public gathering, including spectator.”

BCCI statement

The sports ministry has issued an advisory that in case it's unavoidable to postpone a sporting event, then it is preferable that it be conducted without a large public gathering.

UPCA secretary Yudhveer Singh had also confirmed the development earlier on Thursday.

“After receiving the government advisory, we had a discussion with BCCI officials and then decided that spectators will be barred from entering the stadium during second ODI between India and South Africa on March 15.”

Yudhveer Singh, UPCA

Only TV crew, commentators and journalists will be allowed inside the stadium, apart from the players and support staff for the Lucknow and Kolkata ODIs.(Photo: BCCI)

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has decided to put ticket sales on hold, informed president Avishek Dalmiya, who also met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat in Kolkata to discuss the prevailing situation.

"I met our honourable CM at the secretariat. We would like to adhere to the government directive that has been issued today and we are stopping all ticket sales with immediate effect. We will wait till further directive," Dalmiya told PTI from Kolkata.

“So, isn’t it a foregone conclusion that the matches will be played in empty stadiums? “I wouldn’t like to make any premature comment. As of now, we will stop ticket sales till further directive. That’s how it stands as of now.”

Avishek Dalmiya, CAB President

Only TV crew, commentators and journalists will be allowed inside the stadium, apart from the players and support staff.

The BCCI is starting with its closed-door policy as the fifth day of the Ranji Trophy final will be played in an empty stadium in Rajkot.