Ctg ready to host 2nd Test and first ODI
Birsreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium to host the 2nd test between South Africa and Bangladesh on Friday. Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
“Any repeat like that of unpleasant incident of April 16, 2006 at Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium may leave adverse effect on co-hosting 2011 World Cup Cricket at this Test venue and all concerned including law enforcers, crowds and media people in Chittagong must take into consideration seriously while the city awaits the 2nd Test and first ODI which is beginning between Bangladesh and South Africa on February 29.” Major (retd) Imroze Ahmed, vice chairman of grounds and facilities management committee of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), brought the memories of the ugly incident back on Sunday while he was briefing local journalists about the BCB's preparations on the matches here. On April 16 in 2006, cricket took a back seat on the opening day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Australia as the marauding cops led by the then DC (port) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Ali Akbar swung into an uncalled for action against the on-duty journalists, injuring at least 20 media men of different national dailies and satellite televisions at this venue. Imroze said they don't want repeat of any such incident as the co-hosting the 2011 World Cup depends on the peaceful and successful hosting of the current Test and ODI series. CMP Commissioner M Akbar Ali, also the chairman of the organising committee of the 2nd Test and first ODI, said strong security measures have been planned during the matches. In a lighter mood, he said his very name sometimes made him embarrassed because of its resemblance with a former DC. “I wish the two names will not be pronounced in similar adoration,” he said. Ali Abbas, Chittagong Press Club president and convener of the media committee, also spoke at the briefing. Preparations at a glance: Both the SA and Bangladesh team will arrive in Chittagong this (February 27) morning and stay at Hotel Peninsula during their 16-day sojourn here. Around 10,000 tickets, excluding the complimentary ones, are expected to be released through AB Bank branches for the matches. Of these, 1100 are club house tickets, 6500 are gallery and 1350 are special enclosure,” Imroze said, adding that the prices for tickets for the 2nd Test and first ODI are fixed at Tk 100 (Test) and Tk 300 (ODI) for club house, Tk 30 (Test) and Tk 70 (ODI) for east and west galleries, and Tk 80 (Test) and Tk 250 (ODI) for special enclosures. Free entry: Students of city schools will get free entry into the stadium during the Test only. “They will get the access into the stadium after 11.00am each day of the Test provided they come with school uniform. The objective behind this is to give the future generation, who hardly afford to buy tickets, a scope to enjoy the performance of their home team,” sources said.
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