Responding to a note from BCCI president Shashank Manohar seeking explanation about the crowd behaviour during the T20I between India and South Africa, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on Wednesday said it will not allow water bottles inside the Barabati Stadium in future.
“We will not allow water bottles inside the stadium henceforth,” OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said regarding the October 5 incident.
The BCCI had sought a report from OCA within two days but Behera said the Odisha board will place its point of view within two hours.
“We have assured BCCI that such an incident would not be repeated at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.” he assured.
Manohar in his letter had asked OCA to explain why the spectators were allowed to carry the bottles inside the stadium, which is against the ICC guidelines.
Angry spectators had hurled missiles, mainly water bottles, into the ground as South Africa were cruising towards victory and halted the match for a considerable amount of time.
“We had allowed water bottles to the stadium in view of the heat and humidity. The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds little knowing that the water bottles would be misused by the spectators,” OCA president Ranjib Biswal said.
Meanwhile the Odisha Police distanced themselves by claiming that OCA allowed the water bottles in the stadium despite the restriction.
Anguished over the shameful incident, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the state home secretary to probe into the matter and submit a report within one month.
No bottles to be allowed in Kanpur
Kanpur: Alarmed by the crowd trouble in Cuttack, the Kanpur police has barred fans from bringing water bottles and tiffins in the opening one-dayer here on October 11.
The incident has prompted the Kanpur administration to take preventive steps, which include putting up a 10 feet net in front of the stands to ensure that any object thrown by fans does not reach the ground.