India vs England: Fans to be allowed inside stadium for Motera Tests, PM Narendra Modi invited

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to allow fans to attend the third Test between India and England at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. India and England are gearing up for the four-match Test series which will get underway later this week. The first two Tests are scheduled to take place in Chennai while Ahmedabad will host the third and fourth Tests.

The upcoming series will be the first international series in India since the coronavirus pandemic halted action around the world in March last year. Domestic cricket started last month with the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but fans were not allowed to attend the games. It means that the third Test against England could be the first time fans would be allowed inside the stadium in India amid the pandemic.

“As the seating capacity is more than a lakh, the GCA can easily accommodate 50 per cent crowds for the third and fourth Tests. The Government has allowed sports stadiums to run with 50 per cent capacity so it has been decided to allow fans for the matches in Ahmedabad. The media will also be able to cover the game from the stadium,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The third Test between India and England will also be the first international fixture played at the renovated stadium in Ahmedabad. Popularly known as the Motera stadium, it has a capacity of 1,10,000, and is the largest cricket stadium in the world.

The report further stated that several dignitaries are likely to be invited for the third Test. The news outlet mentioned that the BCCI has already extended invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J P Nadda and Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be in attendance as well.

No clarity on fans for England Tests in Chennai

While fans are likely to get the green light to watch the third Test from the stands, there is no clarity on whether the fans will be allowed inside the stadium for the first two Tests in Chennai. Previously, it was announced that spectators won’t be attending the first two Tests but the revised COVID-19 guidelines have made the entry of fans a possibility. Several reports have suggested that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) is open to the possibility of having fans back in the stands for the second Test.

“We have no objections but we will see how the first Test goes. However, we will be more than happy to accommodate the fans provided we get a clearance from all the necessary authorities. We are in talks with BCCI and waiting for their directive,” TNCA secretary RS Ramasaamy said while speaking to the Times of India.