India vs West Indies: CAB has requested the BCCI to allow spectators for 3rd T20I, says Avishek Dalmiya

Speaking to India Today, CAB president Avishek Dalmiya and secretary Snehasish Ganguly said the state association has requested the BCCI to allow spectators for the 3rd T20I against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens. The first 2 T20Is will be held without fans at the iconic venue.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Avishek Dalmiya and secretary Snehasish Ganguly on Tuesday confirmed that the state body has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow spectators to watch the finale of the T20I series between India and West Indies from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Avishek Dalmiya, speaking to India Today, said that the first two matches of the 3-match T20I series will be played without spectators at the iconic venue, adding that the BCCI took the call, keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation.

India will take on the West Indies in 3 T20Is at the Eden Gardens from February 16 to 20. When the Eden Gardens hosted the 3rd T20I of a 3-match series against New Zealand in November last year, 70 percent capacity was allowed at the iconic ground.

Earlier in February, the West Bengal government allowed 75 percent capacity for indoor and outdoor sports activities. However, after hosting the ODI series in Ahmedabad in front of empty stands, the BCCI has gone ahead with the decision to not have spectators at Eden Garden as well.

"We all want spectators to come and watch the cricket. We all want it to be normal again, like how we were used to in our childhood. But unfortunately, because of the Covid situation, BCCI wants to focus on the safety of the cricketers and that's why they have taken this decision to keep these matches spectator-free," Avishesk said.

"At least for the first couple of matches, that is what we feel is going to happen. We have requested the board to at least allow some of our members and. When we last played in November, we had 70 percent capacity. And we had also simultaneously maintained the bio-secure environment. We have the mechanism. If that's possible, it will be good.

"In that case, the environment also becomes a little different," he added.