BCCI announced the norms for the crowd allowance for the India vs England Test series. India’s four-match home series against England begins with the first Test at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Friday (February 5).
The crowd allowance for India vs England Test
The first two match of India vs England Test series is set to play in Chennai from February 5. With a lot of expectations, India’s home series returns after the South Africa tour postponed in 2020.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) have decided to allow crowds at 50 percent capacity in the second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
“We discussed the issue of allowing spectators for second India vs England Test following fresh COVID-19 guidelines by the Central government permitting crowds at sporting venues and also the state government’s SOPs given on Sunday,” the TNCA official told PTI.
“There’s no time to allow entry of spectators for the first Test starting on February 5 as we received the government notification only recently. You can’t organise entry of spectators at such short notice,” a senior TNCA official told PTI news agency on conditions of anonymity.
“But yes, now with fresh guidelines, there’s every possibility that second Test starting from February 13 might have spectators as per notification,” he added.
“It has been decided by the BCCI and TNCA to allow 50 percent spectators for the second Test by following all safety protocols.”
Crowd allowance for the last two test matches
Now, as per the latest report in The New Indian Express, crowd entry is almost certain for the third and fourth Test between the two sides at the renovated Motera Stadium.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has a crowd capacity of 50,000. The first Test commences on Friday and will be played behind closed doors. Notably, crowds have already been allowed for the third and fourth Test in Ahmedabad.
The official further said that media would also be allowed to cover both the Tests from the press box at the stadium.
As per a report in Indian Express, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to invite PM Modi to the venue during the Test match.
Ahmedabad’s iconic Motera Stadium, rechristened as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, was inaugurated by former US President Donald Trump on February 24, 2020.
With a seating capacity of 1,10,000, the venue is the second-largest in the world, only behind the Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea, which can accommodate 1,14, 000 people.
