Indian, Aussie teams arrive in Vadodara for fifth ODI

Vadodara, Oct 9 (UNI) The Indian and Australian teams arrived here late this afternoon amid tight security for the fifth ODI in the seven match series which will be played at the Reliance Cricket Ground on October 11.

The teams arrived at the Taj Presidency where they were given a traditional welcome by the hotel staff. Both India and Australia do not have any practice session scheduled today and they will have net session at the stadium tomorrow with Australia leading the series 2-1.

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), meanwhile, has made fool proof security arrangements for the match. The BCA officials told journalists that the tickets for the 21,000 capacity stadium have been sold out with 9,000 tickets being sold to the public and the remaining going to the clubs affiliated to the BCA.

The BCA is also planning to honour master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, for whom this match will be his 400th. Only Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka has played more matches than Sachin. The BCA officials also informed that they will also felicitate local boy Irfan Pathan after his exploits in the T20 World Cup.

We have spoken to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and they will let us know the time on which the felicitation function can be held, an BCA official informed, adding that it will most likely be during the lunch break on the match day.

Informing about the steps being taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the game, the BCA said that no spectator will be allowed to enter with water bottles and for the first time free mineral water will be provided to the spectators irrespective of the denomination of their tickets.

UNI