CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association has already withstood a storm. Literally. Cyclone Vardah has caused severe damage to the MA Chidambaram Stadium’s B ground, which is normally used for net facilities. As it stands, India and England will take the field on Friday without any net practice, with the hosts set to have only a fielding session on Thursday morning.
But there are also complications related to the Lodha panel recommendations, and though the Supreme Court gave green light to disperse around Rs 56 lakh for each association hosting a Test, the funds won’t come directly to the pockets of TNCA.
That money will go to the BCCI, which will have to take care of the hotel expenses and other requirements of the teams. However, for TNCA, which already has to spend a few more lakhs because of the destruction caused by Vardah, the expenses so far has been around Rs 2 crore. The figure is expected to go up, but those in the know indicated it won’t touch Rs 3 crore.
“The money that Supreme Court has told to release won’t come to TNCA at all. It is for the BCCI to take care of the hotel stay and players’ match fee among other things. The TNCA is spending the money out of its own pocket. We have spent approximately around Rs 2 crore as of now on police, food, gate entry, hospitality and other things. We have to pay Rs 20 lakh per day to the police for security cover. None of it will be reimbursed by the BCCI,” a TNCA official told Express.
Though the TNCA has spent a huge chunk of money, they can always bank on revenue earned through in-stadia advertisements as well as ticket sales. With the city having not witnessed a major fixture since the ODI against South Africa last October, the ticket sales have been encouraging. To make things more easy in the times of demonetisation, the association has been selling only tickets worth Rs 300 at the stands, with card facility available in all counters.
“The demonetisation has caused us a little bit of difficulty. We have been dealing in cheques. The ticket sales have been encouraging as usual and there are still tickets available in the Rs 300 range. The corporate seats and upper tiers have already been sold out. So far we have collected around Rs 66 lakh though ticket sales,” said another official in TNCA.
For the record, in case the match gets abandoned, the TNCA has insured the Test for Rs 5 crore.