In view of an India-West Indies One Day International (ODI) match scheduled at the Barabati Stadium here on December 22, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on Tuesday closed the Gallery-7 to prevent any mishap due to its dilapidated condition after Cyclone Fani.

OCA secretary Sanjay Behera told reporters that several parts of the gallery have become weak. Chunks of roof plaster are coming off and the maintenance has become an utmost necessity now. An expert team would be pressed into service for its inspection.

“I don’t think it is possible to repair the gallery in a month’s time. So, the repair work will be carried out after the ODI match. If the inspection team finds the gallery safe for spectators, we will use it during the match. Otherwise, we will close it and not accept tickets for the old gallery,” said Behera.

Besides, restoration work of floodlights at the stadium damaged by the Fani would be completed by November last week or December first week, he informed.

“We had negotiations with Dev Musco, a company owned by former cricketer Kapil Dev, for restoration work and it has been finalised. We have already given the work order. It will be ready much before the ODI match,” he said.

On pricing of tickets for the match, Behera said it has not been finalised.

He further informed that the Barabati Stadium is very likely to host Test matches in future as he has approached BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to include it in the Test venue list.

“The last Test match was played here way back in 1995. But due to lack of accommodation and hotel facility for players near the stadium, the BCCI has delisted the venue for Test matches. However, I appraised the BCCI about the new bridge constructed at Trishulia that will reduce the travel duration from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack,” Behera said, adding, “ I will again write a letter to the BCCI in this regard soon.”