GUWAHATI: Taking no chances in the wake out of the massive protests against the Centre’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act that has roiled the state in particular and the Northeast in general, the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Barsapara Stadium resembles a fortress ahead of the opening encounter of the three-match T20I series between hosts India and Sri Lanka on Sunday.
For the ACA, which is all set to host its second T20 international match and the first game of the 3-match Paytm Trophy T20 series in the city, the game will also be a preparatory event as it is scheduled host three “home games” of the Rajasthan Royals franchise during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
Addressing media persons ahead of the match, Mamun Mazumder, the observer appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said that Sunday’s match is a “gift” for Assam from the BCCI.
“Three more IPL matches have been scheduled in this stadium this season. Based on the performance of Assam Cricket Association (ACA) in this match, the BCCI will decide whether Baraspara Cricket Stadium will be selected as the venue for the same. The BCCI joint secretary will be in Guwahati to see the match live,” Mazumder said.
From the security scenario, the match will be a litmus test for security agencies, especially Assam police, as the local police had to face international criticism after a stone was hurled at the visiting Australian team bus at Lakhara area of the city after a T20I game on the night of October 11, 2017. That was the first-ever international T20 game played at the stadium.
Elaborating on the security arrangements made for the crucial match, city police ommissioner MP Gupta said that sufficient number of security personnel have been deployed both inside and outside the stadium.
The violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which killed five in police firing last month, had paralysed the city for a few days. Now, the ACA and the state government have left no stone unturned to hold an incident-free match.
ACA secretary Devajit Saikia said the ACA was never apprehensive about hosting the match. “There was never a situation when the ACA and BCCI were skeptical about the conduct of the match. Everything went as per the plan,” he said.
