The Barabati stadium.

Cuttack, Oct. 19: Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has begun preparations in the right earnest for the series opener between India and Sri Lanka to be held at the Barabati stadium on November 2.

The match has been allotted to the OCA following cancellation of the T20 match between India and West Indies on October 22 as the visitors pulled out of the tour midway through the series.

Though an official communication with regard to the November 2 tie is yet to be received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera confirmed the development.

“We have already discussed it with the BCCI and begun the process of printing of tickets. The online sale of tickets will start from tonight,” said Behera.

The OCA secretary said it would be practically impossible to hold the match on any date other than November 2 because the Bali yatra festival will commence in Cuttack from November 6.

Sources said since the parking lots in front of Barabati Stadium would not be available during Bali yatra, the OCA had asked the BCCI to allot it the first match of the India-Sri Lanka series.

OCA officials said that following the cancellation of the T20 match yesterday, the state association had earlier requested the BCCI to allot it a match of the last home series of team India ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

Cricket enthusiasts of the state, who were disappointed by the cancellation of the T20 match between India and West Indies at Barabati on October 22, are happy. They have the opportunity of watching two major teams fight it out at their favourite stadium.