Mirpur capacity slashed for New Zealand ODIs

Cricinfo staff

September 22, 2010

Comments: 8 | Text size: A | A

	Renovation work has left only 7,000-8,000 seats for the general public © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup | New Zealand tour of Bangladesh Teams: Bangladesh Grounds: Shere Bangla National Stadium

The Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur is likely to operate at less than half its capacity during the one-day series between Bangladesh and New Zealand in October because of ongoing renovation work ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

The official capacity of the stadium - which will host six World Cup matches, including two quarterfinals - is 26,000 but the BCB will issue a maximum of 10,000 tickets for each match of the New Zealand series. Of these, around 2000-3000 will be complimentary tickets, leaving only 7,000-8,000 seats for the general public.

"For the greater interest, we have to accept some difficulties for the coming series," Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the BCB's director and tour organising secretary, told the Daily Star. "Within a very short time we will get a guideline from the local organising committee about the capacity for the series. But the number will not be more than 10,000."

The first ODI between New Zealand and Bangladesh will be played on October 5.