The two India-England Tests in Chennai will not be played in front of empty stands after all.
Monday was a busy day for TNCA officials, who first held a meeting among themselves and then engaged in deliberations with the BCCI.
The State Government’s decision to allow 50 per cent spectators in the stadium for all sporting events had put the ball in TNCA’s court, opening up the issue.
Too late for first Test
At the end of it all, TNCA secretary R.S. Ramasaamy told The Hindu: “For the first Test, since we don’t have time to prepare and all along our mindset was ‘Tests without crowds’, we will issue tickets only to 180 member clubs, each of whom will get two tickets. So we are looking at 360 spectators.”
Ramasaamy added: “For the second Test, we have decided, with the BCCI, that we would have 50% of the stands full. But the spectators would not be seated in the pavilion, the pavilion terrace or the nearby areas of the stadium.”
The first Test gets underway on February 5, and there is a three-day gap between the first and the second Tests.
However, an England team spokesperson said, “We are not going to comment on speculation. We are still waiting to hear from the BCCI in terms of their protocols for the Test series.”
Ramasaamy said the BCCI would communicate its decision to the ECB.
There was good news for the media too. The press box would be open for both the Tests. “Journalists will need to get local accreditation from the TNCA since there is little time for central accreditation,” Ramasaamy said.
So the sound of silence will not rule at Chepauk in the first two Tests. And, in the second Test, you will actually hear the ‘roar’ from the crowd.
