In the first One-day warm-up game between Board President XI’s and New Zealand on Tuesday at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, hundreds of spectators were forced to return home after BCCI reportedly failed to provide the machinery for security to secure the stadium which is being owned by Cricket Club of India.
According to the Police Deputy Commissioner for Mumbai Zone-1, Manoj Sharma revealed the request was made that machinery regarding the security should be provided by the board, as he added the demand was unheard and which subsequently resulted in not allowing the fans to enter the stadium, as per the security reasons.
“Before the game we had asked for certain things which BCCI couldn’t provide. So keeping the security in mind we decided not to allow any spectators inside the ground,” Manoj was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
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The deputy commissioner of police further added they are bound to deploy the men during the match, as the Board was deemed as irresponsible in approach by many from certain quarters when different international cricket team is in the country to feature in the limited-overs series.
“We provide them with man-power,” Manoj added.
It’s pertinent to point out that security equipment are bound to be provided by the State Association of the country’s premier board before the slated games.
Moreover, the specific apparatus are being provided by the Board whenever an international team is scheduled against the hosts, as the police department in the area further coordinate with the administration and State Cricket Association – to make the game possible without any untoward incident by maintaining the discipline and thousands of spectators.
“Whenever any match takes place the association or BCCI provides specific equipment — scanners, CCTV cameras and other security related items,” Manoj remarked.
Interestingly, the boards are further scheduled to chalk out a plan owing to the representative to look after the task which has been assigned for different fixtures at distinct venues.
Last time when wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni featured in a game at Brabourne Stadium against Eoin Morgan-led England, a die-hard fan breached the defence and ran onto the field – to touch Dhoni’s feet before security caught hold of him, as security always remained a concern for the authority.
With no match tickets available for such low-turnout fixtures, as per the Indian Express report, the administration of CCI has had earlier made inquiries thrice from the CoA and BCCI itself while dispatching at least three applications in writing.
Interestingly, the electronic mail revealed secretary for the Brabourne ground NK Jha agreed to host the game and suggested to allow the fans from one of the gates while holding talks with the police administration.
“YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO BCCI ABOUT THIS, THEY WILL ANSWER,” JHA REvealed ACCORDING TO IE.
The interim body is further supposed to provide the status report of the Lodha Panel Recommendations to the apex body before the fresh elections could be conducted to set the house in order after BCCI President Anurag Thakur was sacked in January for failing to comply with court orders.
However, in the first of two-match warm-up game on October 17, BPXI clinched a 25-run victory over Kane Williamson-led Black Caps following all-round show from the hosts, as Prithvi Shaw scored 66 which further saw Karun Nair as the top-run scorer with 78 and wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul posted 68 with Shahbaz Nadeem being pick of the bowler for his figures of three for 41.