No cheer girls during Barabati ODI

No cheer girls would perform during the One Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka scheduled to be played at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack on December 21.

The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) decided not to go ahead with its earlier plan of cheer girls concept in the forthcoming match.

"Looking at the unnecessary controversy over the issue, we have decided to stall the plan," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera after a preparatory meeting held in Cuttack under the chairmanship of state Sports minister Prabin Kumar Bhanjdeo.

OCA had earlier decided to engage cheer girls with traditional attire like Sambalpuri sarees and display various movements of local folk dances during drink intervals and lunch breaks, fall of wickets or when the ball is hit for a four or six in the match.

But a local outfit had threatened to disrupt the match if cheer girls were roped in for the match.

The outfit had claimed that the OCA was trying to erode the rich cultural tradition of the state by engaging the girls to perform during a cricket match.

The Sports minister on Wednesday inaugurated the OCA Corporate Box in the stadium which would have 1050 seats for the spectators to watch the match inside cool comforts under AC with food, soft drinks and beverages.

The price of a single seat inside this box is pegged at Rs 8000, sources said.