Organisers rubbish security apprehensions, Guwahati ODI on time

Guwahati, Mar 27 (UNI) After recent blasts created security apprehensions among the visiting England cricket team, the Assam Cricket Association(ACA) today dispersed any such fear and said with adequate security in place, the fifth ODI will take place as per the schedule.

ACA secretary Bikash Baruah told reporters today that the association had apprised the BCCI and the union government after a meeting with the district administration in this regard and about 2000 security personnel will be deployed in the field on April 9 to ensure the match goes withouit any hiccup.

''Peparation for successful conduct of the match is on in full swing. Preparations of the pitch and outfield were taken up long ago and curator Dr Sunil Baruah is about to give the finishing touches. BCCI pitch committee member Prabir Mukherjee has visited the venue and expressed satisfaction,'' he said.

Prema Dhar Sharma, media in-charge of the event, said this time maximum number of foreign journalists were coming to cover the event and sought cooperation from the local sports journalists as ACA was unable to accommodate all of them in the press box.

Altogether 17,850 tickets for the ODI will be on sale from April 2 from the UCO bank counter. The tickets range from Rs 300 to Rs 3000. A few tickets were reserved for disabled persons at Rs 100 and Rs 150 for students, he said adding if all tickets were sold ACA will earn about Rs one crore and the state government Rs 15 lakh as amusement tax.

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