PNN & Agencies
New Delhi & Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: Livid with the crowd trouble that marred the second T20 International between India and South Africa in Cuttack, the BCCI sought Wednesday a report from the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) asking the body to explain why spectators were allowed to carry bottles inside the stadium. The game was twice interrupted as the spectators threw bottles into the ground, peeved at India’s poor show against the visitors.
“In the wake of unruly behaviour by the crowd at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack during the second T20I between India and South Africa on October 5, 2015, the BCCI president, Mr Shashank Manohar, has asked the secretary of Orissa Cricket Association, Mr. Asirbad Behera, to submit a report on the incident within two days,” the board said in a statement issued in New Delhi.
“During the second innings of the match, the spectators at the Barabati Stadium disrupted the game by hurling plastic water bottles on the field of play. As a result, the play had to be stopped for several minutes.
“Mr Manohar has asked the state association to explain why the spectators were allowed to carry the bottles inside the stadium, which is against the ICC Guidelines,” the statement added.
Meanwhile in Cuttack, the OCA secretary stated that in future the association wouldn’t allow water bottles into the ground. “We will not allow water bottles inside the stadium henceforth,” OCA Behera said regarding the October 5 incident. “We have assured BCCI that such an incident would not be repeated at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack,” he added and stated that the report would be sent to the BCCI shortly.
However, in spite of his assurances, sources indicated Wednesday that the BCCI will be waiting for the report from the umpires CK Nandan and C Shamshuddin. There reports will also be taken into by the BCCI. Match referee Chris Broad is also expected to send in his report to the ICC every soon.
Sachin urges fans to show restraint
Kochi: Sachin Tendulkar stated here Wednesday that the unruly crowd behaviour during the Cuttack T20 was not good for the sport and exhorted the fans of the ‘gentleman’s’ game to learn from the forgettable incident. “What happened during the game is definitely not good for cricket. It has happened earlier also in the country. We need learn from these mistakes,” said Tendulkar. “We are all passionate about the game. We all love the game so we get disappointed and frustrated at times. There are way to express that but what happened in Cuttack is certainly not the way to show your emotions,” the former batting icon added.