Sanjay Kapoor, venue director for the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), has responded to allegations regarding unsafe seating at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, ahead of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh, which starts on Friday, September 27.
The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department recently flagged the upper block of the C stand as potentially unsafe, advising against full capacity usage. However, Kapoor reassured fans that the situation has been thoroughly assessed and necessary adjustments to the seating arrangements have been made.
"These claims about fan safety are unfounded. While the balcony can hold 10,000 spectators, we've reduced the available seats to 7,200, and tickets for the remaining 2,800 seats will not be sold," Kapoor stated, as reported by Hindustan Times.
He also highlighted that the stadium has seen an increase of nearly 6,000 seats compared to the last match held in 2021, bringing the total capacity to approximately 26,000. The UPCA has implemented measures to ensure fan safety, including arrangements for 3,000 schoolchildren to attend the match each day.
Kapoor confirmed that the venue is fully prepared for the Test match and can handle adverse weather conditions. "The floodlights are operational, and we've conducted thorough checks to ensure readiness for any potential bad weather," he affirmed.
Green Park Stadium, a historic venue, hosted its first Test match in January 1952 and has since held 23 matches, with ten resulting in a result. The last Test at the venue took place in November 2021, ending in a draw between India and New Zealand.