India vs England 2021: BCCI allows in-stadium spectators for Motera Test on February 24

Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium

With quite an assurance, BCCI said that it would allow spectators in the stands for the third Test between India and England from February 24 to 28 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium at Motera near Ahmedabad.

India and England are scheduled to play the first two Tests of the four-match Test series in Chennai after which the two teams will fly to Ahmedabad for the third and the fourth Test.

Besides, the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is also the venue for the five-match T20I series which will be conducted after the Test matches.

“As the seating capacity is more than a lakh, the GCA can easily accommodate 50 per cent crowds for the third and fourth Tests. The Government has allowed sports stadiums to run with 50 per cent capacity, so it has been decided to allow fans for the matches in Ahmedabad. The media will also be able to cover the game from the stadium,” informed a BCCI source to The Indian Express.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited for the first international game at the Motera Stadium

As per The Indian Express, BCCI has extended invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J P Nadda and Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) president, is also likely to be present.

This could possibly be the first time that the Indian cricket board- BCCI is opening the doors of a stadium for the public in an international game after the Covid outbreak early last year.

The India-England series will get underway in Chennai on February 5. While the first Test will surely be conducted behind the closed doors without spectators, there is still no clarity on fans’ presence for the second Test at the same venue.

Also read: India vs England 2021: Team India might play with Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper in Tests against England