Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his displeasure over the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to hold the first Test between India and Sri Lanka behind closed doors in Mohali. The match, starting March 5 at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, will be Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match if he plays. Due to the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases around the city, the BCCI had decided to hold the match without any spectators.
“Whatever sport you play, you want the crowd to be there. India has played without any crowd in recent times. Any artist, be it actor, cricketer, wants to play in front of the crowd. The 100th Test is very special. Disappointed that the rush is not going to happen, but I think the decision has been taken in more interest. The cases have increased in and around Mohali, where the match is about to be played,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Today.
Not only Gavaskar who was unhappy with BCCI’s decision, a section of cricket fans is also not happy with BCCI. Interestingly, in the recently completed T20 series against Sri Lanka, spectators were allowed in Dharamsala. Even the second Test match against the island nation, which will be played in Bengaluru, will allow 50% of the spectators inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Read also | Maharashtra government may allow 25 per cent spectators for IPL 2022 matches: Report
On Saturday, while announcing the decision, the BCCI had argued that after the series, most of the Indian players would join their respective IPL squads in bubble-to-bubble transfers.
PCA Senior Treasurer RP Singla told PTI on Saturday, “Yes, apart from those on duty for the Test match, we are not allowing any general audience spectators as per the instructions of the BCCI.
“Still new COVID cases are emerging in and around Mohali, so it is better that we follow all the safety protocols. Obviously, the fans missed out because an international match is happening in Mohali after almost three years.”
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos, IPL Auction 2022 And cricket score Here