Cricket fizz bubbles in fortress Cuttack

Cuttack, Jan 22 (UNI) Starved of any international match for over 36 months, Cuttack is leaving no stone unturned to make the second ODI between India and West Indies a grand success, with an impregnable security spanner already in place in and around the stadium.

Last time the Boys in Blue played here in 2003, Scott Styris of New Zealand stole the match away from the Indians.

Meanwhile, the city has become a virtual fortress, with intense security measures being adopted for the match. Under the strict supervision of IG (Law and Order) a big security net has been set up in and around the stadium.

Five Assiatant Superintendents of Police, 19 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 38 inspectors, 300 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors along with 38 platoons of armed police, will supervise the measures.

Cuttack DSP Kumarmani Meher said security measures were put in place a week back. The stadium has been sanitised with the help of sniffer dogs, metal detectors ad other sensors and armed personnel and deployed round the clock.

Four Quick Reaction Teams, the specialised response units of Orissa State Armed Police, would be deployed in and around the stadium during the match.

There is also a huge demand of tickets. The capacity of 32,000 people looks too small to quench the thirst of the city as people are converging from all over the state. Long queues were seen in front of ticket counters.

While 15,000 tickets for the galleries, special enclosure and pavilions have already been sold out, the rest of the tickets are expected to be sold out by tonight, Orissa Cricket Association officials say.

UNI