- By Talib Khan
- Sat, 04 Jan 2020 12:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Delhi | Jagran Sports Desk: Ahead of the first T20 international between India and Sri Lanka scheduled to be played on Sunday, in Guwahati, Assam Cricket Association (ASA) secretary Devajit Saikia on Friday said that poster, banners and message boards will not be allowed inside the Barsapara Cricket Stadium during the match.
He also said that placards showing ‘4’ and ‘6’ too will be allowed as they can be used as surrogate advertisements. Along with these, marker and pens were also prohibited for the match. Only men’s wallets, ladies handbags, mobile phones and vehicle keys will be permitted inside the ground.
Devajit Saikia also asserted that the directives to prohibit these things has nothing to do with the protests against the Citizenship Act that have engulfed most of the state, leading to curfews, internet shutdowns and at least four deaths.
“Everybody is concerned, not just the people of Assam. This is an international event and will have heightened security measures,” said Saikia as quoted by Hindustan Times. “We have to be prepared. The decision to not allow placards and posters is taken because an arrangement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a beverage multi-national has ended, information of which the ACA got around a week back”, he added.
“Whatever security protocol we have to follow, we are,” said Saikia. “Nothing more, nothing less. No situation arose where the ACA or the BCCI were sceptical about holding this match. Following a timeline, we have prepared for this for a month. That is why we are so relaxed,” said Saikia.
A BCCI official said placards that have ‘4’ and ‘6’ printed are usually arranged by the series sponsors and so far the board has heard nothing about them not being allowed. “However, BCCI will abide by whatever the local authorities say on this,” said the official, quoted by Hindustan Times, who did not wish to be named.
Meanwhile, BCCI representative Mamon Majumdar also asked the spectators to “behave very nicely because people from outside, other states will watch us and say spectators are very well behaved.”
