Cuttack gears up to host Sri lanka-India ODI

BHUBANESWAR - Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is gearing up to host the day and night One-day International cricket match between India and Sri Lanka Dec 21.

It will be the 16th day-night international match to be played in Barabati, some 26 km from the state capital here and the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has already begun the preparations, OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera said Monday.

“We are increasing the sitting capacity from 35,000 to 45,000 so that more people can watch the upcoming match,” Behera told IANS.

“For the first time, we are also creating an air-conditioned corporate box where at least 800 people can be accomodated,” he said.

“We are making three parking zones to reduce traffic,” he said, noting that last year there was only one parking zone.

The players, match referees and officials would be given accommodation at hotel Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar.

“We have already booked the hotel,” he said.

There are eight to ten massive bee hives hanging from the roofs of the galleries and these would be removed by mid-November.

Behera said a reception committee has been formed to look after all arrangements. The committee will soon meet chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and seek his help to provide adequate security for the match, he said.

Indo-Asian News Service