Ahmedabad: The remaining three T20 Internationals between India and England at Ahmedabad will be played behind closed doors due amid surge in COVID-19 cases, the Gujarat Cricket Association informed on Monday.
The newly-built Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera was open to 50 per cent crowd capacity for the first two T20 Internationals. It also saw fans for the third and fourth Test matches but now Tuesday's third T20I will now be held without any crowd.
Gujarat Cricket Association in a statement said, “Due to increasing number of corona cases, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) has decided to organise the remaining T20 International matches between India and England at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad behind closed doors. The GCA will refund the money to the spectators, who have purchased the tickets for T20Is scheduled on March 16, March 18 and March 20, 2021.”
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Dhanraj Nathwani, Vce-President, Gujarat Cricket Association said, “Due to rise in the number of corona cases, we at GCA have decided in consultation with BCCI that the matches will be played behind closed doors and not allow the spectators in the ground during T20 Internationals to be played between India and England at Ahmedabad (sic). We will form the policy for refund of money to the spectators, who have already purchased the tickets for these three T20s. Those who have received complimentary tickets are requested not to visit the stadium.”
The decision comes after many fans were even seen without their masks, thus raising fears of more COVID cases for the disease that continues to plague India.
