T20I match to add lustre to Saptami festivity in Guwahati city today

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The festive mood and fervour of Saptami day of Durga Puja in the city will be enhanced on Sunday as the ACA (Assam Cricket Association) Stadium at Barsapara here will be hosting the second T20I cricket match of the ongoing bilateral series between India and South Africa.

The match will start at 7 pm and it is expected to end by 10:30 pm.

It will be the 20th men's international cricket to be held in Guwahati. The first 16 matches were held at the Nehru Stadium, and it will be the fourth men's international match to be held at the ACA Stadium. It may be recalled that the last T20I match played at the ACA between India and Sri Lanka had to be abandoned due to rain.

Interestingly, South Africa had played matches in Guwahati earlier, but both were against teams other than India. This will be first occasion that cricket fans of Assam will witness a South Africa versus India match in Guwahati.

India will be led by Rohit Sharma, while South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma. India is leading the three-match series by a 1-0 margin and hence has the opportunity to clinch the series with a victory tomorrow. The ACA Stadium has a capacity of seating around 36,000 spectators.

Addressing the media on Saturday, ACA secretary Devajit Saikia said that Gate-5 and Gate-6 of the stadium will be opened for spectators' entry at 3 pm because comparatively more spectators will enter the stadium through these gates. The remaining gates will be opened at 4 pm.

Saikia further said that the ACA is trying to host a Test Match at the ACA Stadium, but that will depend on successful hosting of tomorrow's match. As such, he appealed to all cricket lovers to enjoy the match in a peaceful manner.

Meanwhile, addressing the media, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, Partha Sarathi Mahanta said that while efforts will be made to keep the stretch of road from Lokhra Chariali to Barsapara open tomorrow, traffic may have to be regulated during movement of buses carrying the two teams from and to the Radisson Blu hotel. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident, Mahanta added.

It may be mentioned that hundreds of people thronged the ACA Stadium to get a glimpse of the players of both teams.

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