November 05, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 23, 1428

GUWAHATI, Nov 4: Guwahati wants to bury ghost of last match as it prepares to host the opening match of the One-day International series between old foes India and Pakistan on Monday.

Images of a burning stadium and helicopter hovering few feet over wicket in a futile attempt to dry moisture during last year’s India-England match still haunts cricket lovers across India.

“That day Guwahati razed and today everybody is after us for tickets. It is long sold out and we have done it in a most transparent manner through banks as well as affiliated district associations,” said Bikash Barua of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA).

This time weather is fine, so is mood but the ACA is not taking any chances. They have put out advertisement pleading to militant group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) not to do anything untoward during the match.

“We are pleading to everyone, militants, youth and students organisations to let the match go off peacefully,” said Barua.

His call came in background of allegations that some part of the state remains under fear of strike call given by one or other organisation every day.

With India having a moderate winning records on this ground where batting has always been easy, cricket fans are hoping that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team will improve their records.

India played eight matches here, winning four of them and losing three. One match against England was abandoned last year. But they have never played against Pakistan on this ground.—Agencies