Maharashtra may allow up to 25 percent of spectators for IPL 2022

For the final T20I, Himachal Pradesh Association in Dharamshala allowed 10000 spectators on Sunday and the apex cricketing authority of India is hoping for this trend to continue. It is now understood that a maximum of 50% of the spectators will be allowed for the Mohali Test, which was earlier designated to be played behind closed doors. Chinnaswamy is all set to allow spectators for the second Test match.

The Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association who have been shouldered with the onus of hosting the league stages of the Indian Premier League have come to the decision that there will be 25 percent spectators in the stands for the upcoming IPL. The recent developments in Covid’s receding numbers have been stoking the hopes further for the return of the spectators.

Arun Dhumal, the treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, “Yes, we have come full circle. It has set a new template for Indian cricket. There is no looking back.”

He further added, “It was in Dharamsala where the Covid threat to Indian cricket started in 2020. It halted the game there. Subsequently, the matches in Lucknow and Kolkata also got called off due to the Coronavirus threat. We are glad that cricket with crowds got revived from Dharamsala itself. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the crowds for both the games. I hope there is no stopping Indian cricket from here.”

This will be the third IPL since Covid struck and if things go right, the tournament will be witnessing crowds in the Indian stands for the first time since 2019.