The India-Sri Lanka match will see a ban on posters, banners and message boards inside the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
The India-Sri Lanka match will see a ban on posters, banners and message boards inside the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Devajit Saikia, secretary Assam Cricket Association (ACA) said that even placards showing “4” and “6” — which are used on T20 games — will also not be allowed because they could be used for surrogate advertisements. Marker pens too won't be allowed inside.
Only men’s wallets, ladies handbags, mobile phones and vehicle keys will be permitted inside.
According to Saikia, the ban on placards had nothing to do with protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
“Everybody is concerned, not just the people of Assam. This is an international event and will have heightened security measures,” said Saikia, according to Hindustan Times.
He even recalled the time when a stone broke the Australia team bus window after the T20I here in 2017. “We have to be prepared.”
According to Saikia, the reason for not allowing placards and posters, was because the arrangement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a beverage multi-national ended, information of which the ACA got around a week back.
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.
“However, BCCI will abide by whatever the local authorities say on this,” said the official who did not wish to be named.
About police protection, Guwahati’s Commissioner of Police MP Gupta did not specify the number of police personnel that would be deployed on Sunday.
He, however, said no special security arrangements are being made. “We are going through the standard drill and have implemented sufficient security personnel,” he said.
“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, Hindustan Times reported.
BCCI representative Mamon Majumdar has even asked spectators to “behave very nicely because people from outside, other states will watch us and say spectators are very well behaved.”
All this is because ACA will be using Sunday’s game to prepare for hosting Rajasthan Royals' home matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The franchise is said to be playing atleast two of their home games in Assam which would be a first for the state.
“It is a like a dream situation for us,” Saikia said, adding that the ACA has been trying to convince the IPL Governing Council over the past few years to get games to Guwahati.
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 "No posters, banners and placards allowed inside Barsapara Cricket Stadium")
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