On Sunday (5th January), India and Sri Lanka will play the first T20I match which will be the first match of both the teams in 2020. The two teams have already arrived in Guwahati. But the fans could not use the posters or banners to cheers the player in the field.
The audience will not be allowed to take posters, banners, message card, even the four and six banners which the spectators mostly use to enjoy. According to reports of Hindustan Times, the Assam Cricket Association secretary said that these items could be used for representing unrelated messages.
“Posters, banners and message boards will not be allowed inside the Barsapara Cricket Stadium for Sunday’s T20I between India and Sri Lanka,” said Devajit Saikia, secretary Assam Cricket Association (ACA).
The list of non-permitted items also includes marker pens too as only men’s wallets, lady’s handbags, mobile phones, and vehicle keys will be permitted inside the ground.
‘Security not because of CAA’
However, the ACA secretary said that this is not due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He cleared that these precautions are being taken in reference to a stone breaking the Australia team bus window incident after the T20I here in 2017.
“Whatever security protocol we have to follow, we are,” said Saikia.
“Nothing more, nothing less. No situation arose where the ACA or the BCCI were skeptical about holding this match. Following a timeline, we have prepared for this for a month. That is why we are so relaxed,” added Saikia.
While he added that there would be no absence of entertainment factors as DJ and fireworks would be in the stadium.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to make it successful. We will have DJs and there will be fireworks making it a vibrant evening. People will truly enjoy the match,” Saikia.
It is notable that this Guwahati ground has hosted only two international matches. First was a T20I match against Australia in October 2017 which India lost and another one was the ODI match against West Indies in October 2018 where India comfortably registered the victory.