Clarke, Butt to witness Mohali ODI

Chandigarh, Nov 1 : Cricket Australia Chairman Jack Clarke and PCB chief Ijaz Butt, would be at Mohali to witness the fourth one-day international between India and Australia at the PCA Stadium tomorrow.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) top officials will also be present on the occasion, PCA president and former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra told mediapersons here.

He stressed that all the arrangements have been completed for the ODI and expressed confidence that the State Police had taken all security precautions.

The PCA president also dismissed ''threats from Shiv Sena'', which, according to media reports had threatened to disrupt the match in protest against racial attacks on Indians in Australia.

Learning a lesson from the power breakdown during the Corporate Cup, Bindra disclosed that the PCA had down-loaded a new software to reduce the timing of switching over significantly.

''We wanted to purchase generators but could not procure these due to some reasons. However, generators for 15 kv power supply would be installed before the India-Sri Lanka one-day match slated for December 12 in Mohali,'' said Bindra.

''It will take 5 to 25 seconds to switch on generators to provide power supply,'' he said.

''We are fully prepared to conduct the match and this time no major renovation/addition to infrastructure was required. We have installed indoor lights for practice,'' he said.

Replying to a question, Bindra said curator Daljit Singh had told the Steering Committee that the pitch would produce around 550 runs.

Asked about the number of Australian fans visiting Mohali for the match, Bindra said, ''the number could be 400 to 500.

Exact number could not be ascertained as the tickets have also been sold through internet.

''However, it if for the first time that the tickets for the entire north block, with a seating capacity of 600, has been sold out. A ticket for this block cost Rs 2000.'' Barring a few, all tickets for terrace and AC lounge have been sold.

''The PCA has given 2000 'rural students' tickets to the State Government. The PCA will also provide dinner packets to these rural students. The state government would provide the students who are coming to watch the match, lunch and transport,'' he said.

Bindra said the current India-Australia series would decide the fate of one-day match status.

With the introduction of 20-20 version, Bindra saw a new cricket fan base.

''New kind of fans are coming into the game. Those who were watching Manchester United or other top clubs in action have switched to watch cricket,'' the PCA chief said.

''Those full member who tour West Indies should play at Florida in United States to promote cricket there. After India, US is the second biggest cricket market in the world.

The Chinese are also promoting cricket from the grass root level.

Cricket has been included in the Asian Games which China would host,'' Bindra said.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
Unauthorised publication of any content from NewKerala.Com is prohibited