A two-member team of officials from England inspected the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati to access the security scenario for the proposed forthcoming One Day international between India and England on April 9 this year at this venue. While one of the officials was from Scotland Yard, the other was from the England Cricket Board (ECB). They conducted a through assessment of the playing arena in the Nehru stadium as well as the hotel accommodation.

The Guwahati match will be the fifth in the seven match one day series between the two countries. The officials Andy Allman and Sean Gallaghar also met representatives of Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and the Kamrup District administration. They held discussions for the visiting team’s accommodation and security.

ACA tried its best to convince the officials that foolproof security vigil including scrutiny by security guards at every point of access in to the stadium galleries would be implemented. According to ACA sources, the officials felt that the visitor would prefer to use the eastern dressing room in the pavilion and hinted no one would be permitted to enter the pavilion without strict security checks. Similar stringent conditions would be made available as far as the as the accommodation of the team is concerned.

The concern of the ECB is somewhat understandable. England had only once played a three-day match in Guwahati in the seventies. But a lot has changed from then on. The initial objection raised by ECB to matches being held in the North-East was as much for want of facilities like quality hotels and transport as for security concern to the tag of insurgency that this region carries.However, ACA is wary that the coming Assembly elections in the State could result in a shortage of security personnel if dates coincide with the match.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) B. B. Tandon, ACA had requested the Election Commission (EC) to fix the poll dates in such a manner that the match can be organized on the schedule date. Following this, EC is understood to have requested BCCI and ECB to make adjustments in the playing fixture by interchanging the venues if such coincidence of dates for polls cannot be avoided.

Guwahati, the very hub of sporting activities in the North-East, eagerly awaits the Dravids, Shewags, Dhonis, Flintoffs and the Vaughans. But for the time being, Guwahati as a venue is itself under strong scrutiny.

Assam | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |