On Monday, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Avishek Dalmiya confirmed that the West Bengal state government had approved 75% spectator attendance for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies, which will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from February 16 to 20.

According to a West Bengal government notification issued on Monday, "all indoor and outdoor sports activities will be allowed with 75 percent of the capacity of the venue," which means a crowd attendance of around 50,000 can be expected for the India-West Indies T20I series.

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CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said in a statement: “We are thankful to the honorable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, chief secretary and Government of West Bengal for announcing the resumption of sporting activities as well as for allowing 75 percent of the capacity of spectators back to the stadium. We feel that it will give a fresh lease of life to the sportspersons of the state.”

The CAB last hosted a T20I match against New Zealand in a bio-secure environment in November 2021, with 70% attendance at Eden Gardens, and Dalmiya believes the upcoming T20I series will be a successful event in Kolkata despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dalmiya signed off by saying, “This time too, CAB is confident that it will be able to successfully host the three T20Is against the West Indies in a similar manner.”

Notably, before the T20I series, India and West Indies will play a three-match ODI series from 6 February with all matches staging at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

(With PTI Inputs)