India vs Sri Lanka: No posters, banners will be allowed during IND vs SL 1st T20I in Guwahati

Posters,
banners and message boards will not be allowed inside the Barsapara Cricket
Stadium for Sunday’s T20I between India and Sri Lanka, said Devajit Saikia,
secretary Assam Cricket Association (ACA), on Friday.

Placards
showing “4” and “6” staple at T20 games—too will not be allowed because they
could be used for substitute advertisements, he said. No marker pens will be
allowed inside as well, he said. Only men’s wallets, ladies handbags, mobile
phones and vehicle keys will be permitted inside the ground.

With
Guwahati’s Commissioner of Police MP Gupta sat on his right, Saikia said the
directive had nothing to do with protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act
(CAA) that have engulfed most of the state, leading to curfews, internet
shutdowns and at least four deaths.

“Everybody
is concerned, not just the people of Assam. This is an international event and
will have heightened security measures,” said Saikia.

A BCCI
official said placards that have ‘4’ and ‘6’ printed are usually arranged by
the series sponsors and so far the board has heard nothing about them not being
allowed.

Gupta did
not specify the number of police personnel that would be deployed on Sunday but
said no special security arrangements are being made. “We are going through the
standard drill and have implemented sufficient number of security personnel,”
he said.