The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought a report from the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on the disturbances during the India-South Africa T-20 match played at the Barabati Stadium here on Monday.
The match was disrupted twice when some passionate spectators threw plastic water bottles to the ground in an act of depression seeing the poor performance of Indian players. Although the players’ security was never compromised, the BCCI has sought a report within 48 hours to know why water bottles were allowed at the stands despite a ban on them.
Confirming receipt of the BCCI communiqué, OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said a prompt reply would be sent to the BCCI. Exuding confidence that the OCA’s reply would clear all controversies surrounding the “trivial” incident, Behera rubbished the apprehensions of the venue being blacklisted.
“On humanitarian ground, the water bottles were allowed to be taken to the stands. But since the facility was misused by a few spectators, we will have a blanket ban on the bottles from next match,” Behera said, adding that instead adequate pipe water facilities would be made available in the galleries henceforth.