Viisakhapatnam gears up for T20 international match on Wednesday

Visakhapatnam: The high octane T20 International match between India and New Zealand is set to electrify the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. This stadium, renowned for hosting high-profile matches, including the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup, is abuzz with excitement as fans eagerly anticipate a thrilling encounter.

Cricket fever has gripped the city, as it has got the privilege of hosting a major cricket match within just two months. This comes after the city hosted a one-day international match between India and South Africa on December 6. The last T20 international match hosted by the stadium was between India and Australia in November 2023.

India's strong comeback in the T20 series after losing the ODI series against New Zealand has generated immense interest among cricket fans in north Andhra and neighbouring states. The match is expected to witness a full house as anlmost all tickets have been sold. Some fans reportedly are running from pillar to pillar to secure tickets for the match.

Vizag has emerged as the winning ground for the home team, and cricket fans are fervently hoping that India can maintain its winning streak. Rajasekhar, an avid cricket fan, expressed his excitement about the T20 match between India and New Zealand, stating that both teams are in excellent form and that the match promises to be a feast for the eyes. He predicted that the match will be a total paisa vasool experience for spectators on Wednesday.

All necessary arrangements have been made for the grand event. Officials have meticulously reviewed and implemented security measures, traffic regulations, stadium management, drinking water, and sanitation-related protocols for the T20 match.

Police Commissioner Sankabatra Bagchi announced that a numbered seating system has been put in place to ensure that spectators face no inconvenience. He emphasised the importance of fans occupying only the seats allocated to them. Additionally, tickets were exclusively available online, with limited offline sales.

He directed officials to make robust security arrangements, particularly to manage crowd flow at entry points. CCTV cameras will be installed in parking areas, an upgraded centralised public address system will be set up for effective communication, and special police officers will be deployed to safeguard the cricket teams and their support staff.

GVMC, in collaboration with the ACA, is planning to conduct the match with Zero Waste Management. Adequate staff will be deployed to prevent sanitation issues, and drinking water facilities will be provided inside the stadium under GVMC supervision, as per officials.

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, built in 2003, holds significant historical importance. It hosted the inaugural ODI match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in 2005. The match was a momentous occasion, and legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's heroic innings of 134 captured the hearts of cricket fans worldwide.

After being granted Test status in 2015, the stadium made its Test debut in November 2016, featuring a match between India and England. India emerged victorious by a margin of 246 runs. The stadium also hosted its first T20I match in February 2016, featuring a clash between India and Sri Lanka.

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium has till now hosted eight ODIs, four T20 international matches, and 17 IPL matches.