Bangladesh Cricket Board targeting 50 per cent crowd in stadium for Afghanistan series

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is making all possible attempts to have at least a 50 per cent crowd in attendance for Afghanistan’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh. The tour consists of three One Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals. While all three of the ODIs will be hosted in Chattogram the two T20Is are scheduled to be played in Mirpur.

In the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League, the BCB was initially in all readiness to hold full capacity crowds, however, were later forced to alter their plans owing to the Omicron variant.

Though the fans were eventually allowed into the grounds for the playoffs and finals, the attendance allowance was limited only to three to four thousand spectators. However, ahead of the Afghanistan series, the BCB is in talks with concerned authorities to be permitted a minimum of 50 per cent occupancy.

We want at least fifty per cent spectators: BCB official

Notably, many international series and domestic T20 leagues have been held behind closed doors since COVID first hit the world in 2019. However, with the positivity rate across the globe on a decline and with the introduction of vaccinations, several countries have now started holding matches with partial crowds in attendance, with a few even permitting full houses. For instance, major tournaments like the IPL and World T20 that were held last year saw spectators attending albeit in a limited capacity.

“As per government instruction, we have been allowed to have around 3,000 to 4000 spectators in the stadium in Chattogram while around 5,000 in Mirpur. Our board president [Nazmul Hassan] is working hard to get permission from the government to allow more spectators. We want at least fifty per cent spectators,” said the chairman of the BCB’s media committee Tanvir Islam Titu.

Coming to Bangladesh and Afghanistan series, the tour commences with the first ODI being played on February 23rd, the T20I series that follows will kickstart the preparations for both sides leading into the World T20 being held in Australia at the end of this year.