The central government's fresh COVID-19 guidelines permitted crowd attendance at fifty percent of capacity at sporting venues.
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While the four-Test series is expected to be tightly contested, the presence of crowd in the stadium might make the games even more enthralling.
According to a PTI report, spectators might be allowed in the second India-England Test in Chennai after the central government's fresh COVID-19 guidelines permitted crowd attendance at fifty percent of capacity at sporting venues.
Initially, the BCCI and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) had a dialogue over the same before deciding that the first two Tests would be conducted closed doors at Chepauk.
However, the fresh home ministry guidelines on easing of restrictions on public movement have changed the scenario.
"There is no time to allow entry of spectators for the first Test starting on February 5 as we only received the government notification on Saturday. You can't organise entry of spectators at such a short notice," a senior TNCA official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. "But yes, now with fresh guidelines, there is every possibility that second Test starting from February 14 might have spectators as per notification."
Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Stadium is due to host the last two Tests and the crowd entry is certain in that venue.
As per a BCCI source, the board’s top leadership and TNCA officials will have a series of meetings to outline the modalities starting Monday (February 1).
"It was always clear that spectators will be allowed at Motera. But now that we have received the guidelines, the planning for the second Test can be reworked," he said.
(With PTI inputs)