UAE stadiums to be at 70% capacity for T20 World Cup

Stadiums in the United Arab Emirates will operate at 70 per cent of capacity for the Twenty20 World Cup, the organisers said.

Making the announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) added that venues in Abu Dhabi will introduce "new socially distanced 'pods' of a maximum of 4 spectators on their east and west grass mounds".

Dubai and Sharjah are the two other venues in the UAE.

Meanwhile, the ICC and the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said they are closely monitoring the conditions in Oman, where preliminary rounds are due to be played on October 10. 

Some 3,000 fans would be accommodated at Al Amerat stadium in Muscat, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Sunday, though the cyclone left streets in the Omani capital under water, prompted evacuations from coastal areas and delayed flights in and out of the country.

The 16-team tournament was shifted to the Gulf states as a result of a surge of COVID-19 infections in India, but BCCI remains the event host.

The ICC said the BCCI and itself had worked closely with host authorities to ensure fans are welcomed in a safe environment and COVID-19 protocols are applied at all venues.

"The T20 World Cup is the largest sporting event to be held in the region and it will be the biggest global cricket event since the pandemic with fans in stadia," the ICC said.