The Board of
Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA)
have decided to allow a 50% audience for the second Test between India and
England scheduled to be held at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram, PTI quoted a top TNCA
official as saying on Monday.

The issue was brought
forward for discussion by TNCA members, after fresh guidelines regarding
COVID-19 as well as surrounding regulations on public movement and entry of
spectators into sports venues came up.

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“We discussed
the issue of allowing spectators for the second India vs England Test following
fresh COVID-19 guidelines by the Central government permitting crowds at
sporting venues and also the state government’s SOPs given on Sunday. It has
been decided by the BCCI and TNCA to allow 50 per cent spectators for the
second Test by following all safety protocols,” the TNCA official said.

He also added that the media
would be allowed to cover the match from press boxes, but press conferences
would be held virtually.

Reportedly, the decision
was finalised after a meeting between the national and state cricketing
authorities.

The M A Chidambaram
stadium has a capacity of hosting about 50,000 spectators.

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Reportedly, insisting
upon the fact that there existed a time constraint in allowing a crowd for the
first Test, the official said that they were particularly confident about
allowing spectators for the second Test while keeping up with the COVID-19 safety
norms, despite the gap between the two matches being a mere three days.

The first Test between
India and England is slated to start on Friday, while the second one will be beginning
on February 13.

Crowds have already
been allowed in the third and fourth Tests, scheduled to take place in
Ahmedabad.