In a big breakthrough for the ECB, the UK government has allowed entry of 80 per cent of the crowd capacity at Edgbaston for next month’s England-Pakistan ODI (July 13).
The ECB has found success after working together with the government and their Events Research Programme to get as many crowds as possible at cricket venues in the ongoing home international summer.
The allowance will help the ground to accommodate about 19,000 fans – the spectators including those below the age of 16. Among these spectators, those aged 11 or above will have to show a negative COVID-19 Lateral Flow result or give proof that they’ve had two jabs of vaccination in the previous 14 days to be allowed to enter the stadium.
The ground host to Warwickshire County Cricket Club was also allowed to be 70 per cent full for the England-New Zealand second Test played earlier this month, with the exception that the under 16s weren’t part of the trials then. A total of 60,000 spectators had watched the Test match played across four days.
“It’s fantastic for sport in the West Midlands that so many cricket fans will be able to enjoy another blockbuster fixture in England versus Pakistan at Edgbaston,
“ said Stuart Cain, CEO of Warwickshire club in a media release.
“The recent Test match gave us a fantastic opportunity to build a new model for large scale sporting events and I’m pleased to see elements of this first trial being carried forward for the Pakistan match.”
Cain added that the focus will be on enhancing the spectators’ safety through technology and ensuring Edgbaston upholds its high standards as one of the world’s best cricket venues.
