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Cricket buffs' D-Day

Correspondent

All roads lead to Barabati stadium

CUTTACK: All city roads now lead to Barabati stadium, the venue of Wednesday's day and night international cricket match between India and West Indies.

Despite unprecedented security arrangements in and around the stadium, cricket fever has gripped the whole city. Buoyant over the fact that the picturesque ground is hosting the popular version of the game after a gap of more than three years, the mood of the people is upbeat in this part of the world.

This would be the second day and night international cricket match to be played here under floodlights and the stadium would host the 12th ODI. The first day and night international match was played here in November 2003 between India and New Zealand. Due to certain inherent problems, the venue was not an automatic choice of the BCCI to allot the ODIs.

The proud possessors of match tickets and complimentary passes are giving last-minute touches to their preparation for the mega show. Cricket enthusiasts are planning to reach the venue in time so as to occupy suitable seats to witness the match.

"Since the gates of the stadium would be thrown open at 8 a.m. on the match day, we have planned to arrive there in time to occupy vantage positions in the gallery," says Raghuveer, a college student who is going to see the match for the first time in a stadium with some of his friends. "I am carrying sufficient foodstuff and drinking water as I would remain inside the stadium for more than 12 hours," says Arvind, another college student.

Young cricketers of the State and members of several clubs are also waiting impatiently to witness the international match sitting inside the stadium to pick up the fine nuance of the game from their idols.

"I am thrilled that I would be seeing Harbhajan Singh in action, whose bowling style has always inspired me," says Naresh Behera, a young spinner of city-based Solar Club. It's not that only cricket buffs are excited over the match, but businessmen, kiosk owners and foodstuff vendors around the stadium are also equally thrilled.

Security

Meanwhile, the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) is now all set for the D-day and hoping that everything goes off peacefully. The security in and outside the stadium has been tightened.

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