Women’s T20 Cricket: Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, is set to witness the excitement of international women’s cricket. A three-match T20 International series between the Indian and Zimbabwean women’s cricket teams will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur. All matches in the series will commence at 7:00 PM. While cricket fans are enthusiastic about the matches, the administration has also initiated preparations to ensure the convenience and safety of spectators.
According to the schedule, the first T20 match will be played on October 16, the second on October 18, and the third on October 20. Thus, spectators in Raipur will have the opportunity to watch three international matches within a span of six days.
Smriti Mandhana to Lead the Indian Team
Smriti Mandhana will captain the Indian women’s team in this series against Zimbabwe. Shafali Verma has been appointed as the vice-captain. Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur is also part of the squad.
The Indian squad includes players such as Richa Ghosh, G. Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sri Charani, Nandini Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, and Minnu Mani, among others.
Preparations have also been made regarding the Indian team’s practice sessions and the arrival of the Zimbabwean team. The Zimbabwean women’s team is scheduled to arrive in Raipur on October 12 and hold a practice session on October 13.
Online Tickets and Parking Facilities for Spectators
Administrative preparations are underway to ensure the successful conduct of the series. Arrangements for the matches were reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel. Subsequently, a local coordination committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the Raipur District Magistrate.
This committee comprises officials from the police, sports department, transport department, Public Works Department (PWD), NRDA, and the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association. Special attention is being paid to ticketing, parking, and other amenities to ensure spectators face no inconvenience during the event.
Arrangements are being made to provide online e-tickets for spectators. Plans are also in place to provide open Wi-Fi within the stadium complex to facilitate ticket scanning. A designated number of parking passes will be issued alongside the tickets. Additionally, the stadium and parking areas will be monitored via CCTV cameras. Instructions have also been issued to ensure adequate arrangements for food and drinking water for the spectators.
Special focus on security and health facilities
Coordination between the police and relevant departments will be established to strengthen security arrangements during the international matches. The Health Department will map nearby hospitals, while ambulances will be deployed at the stadium.
Plans are in place to establish ‘green corridors’ for emergency situations and VIP movement. Emphasis is also being placed on ensuring smooth fire safety arrangements, emergency exits, power supply, and mobile network connectivity.
The objective of these measures is to handle any emergency situation during the matches and provide a safe environment for the spectators.
Permission granted for three matches following NGT order
The matter involving the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding this series in Raipur has also been a topic of discussion. According to reports, the NGT had issued an interim order on July 2, 2026, prohibiting the hosting of sporting activities without permission at three stadiums, including the one in Raipur.
Subsequently, permission was sought to host international matches. It has been reported that the NGT has modified its earlier restriction and granted permission for the three matches to be held.
Attention is now focused on the organizational preparations for the matches between the Indian and Zimbabwean women’s teams in Raipur. Cricket fans will get to watch three T20 matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium on October 16, 18, and 20.
