Cuttack, Oct 6: Miffed with Cuttack crowd's unruly behaviour which disrupted the game twice, Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday called for imposing ban on the venue.

Gavaskar vehemently criticised the behaviour of the crowd at Barabati stadium following Team India's poor show in the second T20 International game against South Africa and added there has to be deterrent.

Gavaskar told NDTV, "There has to be a deterrent, you cannot allow that to happen. I would imagine that the next time they are due for an international game, that should not be given to them."

"Maybe it will be another two years before Cuttack gets a game, but that game should not be given to them and it should be announced that it has not been given to them because of crowd behaviour."

Upset with India's dismal batting display against Proteas, fans in the stadium hurled plastic bottles onto the ground on Monday night.

After being sent to bat by South African captain Faf du Plessis, Indian batsmen struggled as they were bowled out for 92 runs in 17.2 overs. This was a must-win game for the hosts in the 3-match series after losing the opener by 7 wickets in Dharamsala.

Gavaskar on commentary, said, "This is so so sad. (This has) spoilt the name of Indian cricket."

It was a full house (attendance - 44,790) at the Barabati Stadium, hosting its first ever T20I and some fans in one of the stands were agitated with the Indian team and started hurling plastic bottles onto the ground.

With the boundary ropes brought in, most of the bottles landed outside the playing area. There were nets at the ground but the bottles came from the higher stands.

To pacify the spectators, announcements were made by Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and it was only after 10 minutes of drama that it was brought under control by the local police. But it was not the end.

This was after India were bowled out.

Again water bottles were thrown with South Africa needing 29 more runs to win, at the end of the 11th over (South Africa 64/3).

Play was stopped due to this crowd trouble. It resumed after about 25-minute stoppage.

The match restarted and South Africa won by 6 wickets with that the series 2-0. But the match will be remembered for crowd's disgraceful behaviour.

OneIndia News