GUWAHATI, Jan 8: Ahead of the one-day international (ODI) cricket match between India and Sri Lanka here, the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has sought support from all stakeholders for smooth conduct of the match, which will certainly make Guwahati a strong contender for hosting a World Cup match later this year.
For its part, the ACA is not leaving anything to chance, and has claimed to make all necessary preparations and arrangements to host the match without any glitches.
The cricket association has already engaged an NGO to keep snakes away from the ground to avoid stoppages in play like the incident during the T20 match between India and South Africa in October last year.
Besides, it has taken steps to ensure that technical glitches such as the power outage in one of the floodlight towers that halted proceedings in that match for as long as 18 minutes, do not recur.
“This ODI is very crucial for the city considering the fact that the ICC World Cup is fast approaching. The conduct of the match will be observed and if things go well, the Assam Cricket Association might stand a chance to host a World Cup match later this year,” BCCI joint secretary and former ACA secretary Devajit Saikia said.
“Therefore, the support of all the stakeholders, including the spectators and the people of the city, will be important for successful conduct of the match,” Saikia said.
Besides, ACA’s stake is not just on behalf of Assam, but on behalf of all the eight states of the northeastern region as the ACA Stadium is the only international cricket venue in the region.
The BCCI, however, has not finalised the venues for the World Cup to be held in October-November this year.
On Saturday night, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the venue and reviewed the preparations. “I have instructed the Assam Cricket Association to take all necessary measures to make the event truly memorable for cricket lovers,” Sarma said.
Earlier on Saturday, the Assam Cricket Association, Assam Police and Kamrup Metro district administration reviewed all aspects, including security and traffic management, for smooth conduct of the match.
ACA president Taranga Gogoi, while addressing a media conference, said that all the necessary preparations were being made and all arrangements done in order to host the match in a successful manner.
Responding to complaints regarding overcharged food items and packaged drinking water, Gogoi assured that the ACA would take punitive measures against any vendor who violates the norms.
In relation to that, he also asked the spectators to video record any such violation, so that, if found guilty, those vendors could be blacklisted. The ACA chief also sought the support and cooperation of the people to make the event a success.
In regard to security and related aspects, Guwahati commissioner of police, Diganta Barah, said adequate measures were being taken to conduct the match peacefully, while ensuring the spectators enjoy the match.
The Guwahati police commissioner also requested the people to avoid communication to the stadium by private cars to avoid traffic snarls.
Meanwhile, the Guwahati DCP (traffic) office has issued an official notification in regard to the restrictions on vehicular movement on the match day in order to ensure safety of people, especially vulnerable road users such as children, students, women, senior citizens, and differently abled persons on the road and to give free passage to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire tenders.”
