Free entry for female spectators at Raipur women's T20Is

Female spectators will get free entry to the three women's T20Is between India and Zimbabwe in Raipur, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh confirmed on Thursday. The matches start October 16 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, all three at 7 pm.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai suggested the move during a meeting with association officials. Navratri is also on, and the CSCS source told IANS that a bigger female crowd would add to the festive feel. The association posted the announcement on social media and asked female fans to fill the stands.

The series is Smriti Mandhana's first as full-time India captain, and Zimbabwe's first bilateral series against India. Raipur has never hosted women's international cricket before. After the T20Is, both sides head to Vadodara for three ODIs from October 23.