Sanjay Kapoor, the venue director for the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), has dismissed allegations of unsafe stands at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur ahead of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh, which begins on Friday, September 27.
Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department flagged the upper block of the C stand as unsafe, advising against full capacity usage. However, Kapoor reassured that the situation has been assessed and adjustments have been made to the seating arrangement.
"These are unsubstantiated rumours regarding fan safety. While the balcony can accommodate 10,000 spectators, we have 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 further emphasised that, compared to the last match held in 2021, the venue has seen an increase of nearly 6,000 seats, bringing the total to approximately 26,000. The UPCA has implemented measures to ensure fan safety, including providing provisions for 3,000 schoolchildren to attend the match each day.
Kapoor also assured that the venue is fully prepared for the Test match and capable of handling adverse weather conditions. "The floodlights are functioning well, and we've thoroughly checked everything to be ready for any potential bad weather," he confirmed.
The historic Green Park venue hosted its first Test match in January 1952 and has since staged 23 matches, of which ten yielded results. The last Test at the venue took place in November 2021, ending in a draw between India and New Zealand.