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| The Barabati Stadium. Telegraph picture |
Cuttack, Sept. 3: The third One-Day International (ODI) cricket match between India and West Indies that was to be held at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on October 14 has been cancelled.
Confirming the development, officials of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today said the venue has been shifted to Delhi. However, the one-off T20 match, earlier scheduled to be held in Delhi, will be hosted by Cuttack. The T20 match has been scheduled on October 22.
India will be playing five ODIs, three tests and one T20 match against the West Indies. The first ODI will be played on October 8.
“We are yet to receive an official communication regarding the changes from the BCCI. But we have been informed about the development over the phone,” said OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera.
He said that the ODI match had to be shifted to Delhi from Cuttack owing to non-availability of hotel accommodation in Bhubaneswar.
At least 220 rooms are required to accommodate players, officials and other members of the broadcasting crew at Mayfair Hotel two days in advance for any international match hosted by Cuttack.
Sources said that the entire hotel, where players and other officials stay have been booked in advance for an international conference.
“BCCI has assured of allotting another ODI match after finalisation of fixtures. We hope that cricket fans of the state would be able to watch an ODI in November,” Behera said. A lot of cricket fans have expressed their displeasure at the change of venue.
“We were anxiously waiting to see the match since the last ODI played here between India and Australia was washed out last year,” said Asif Khan, a cricket enthusiast. Khan said that though Barabati will host the sole T20 match in the bilateral series, they were keen to watch Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team play a full 50 over match at Barabati.
“A lot of T20 matches in the Indian Premier League have already been played at Barabati. We are looking forward to watch a Test match here. We urge the officials of OCA to put pressure on the BCCI in this regard,” said Sushant Das, another cricket fan.
