Guwahati, Sept 30: A decade or so ago, an international cricket match in Guwahati generated weeks of anticipation. Tickets were difficult to get, hotels and restaurants saw increased activity and the match became a talking point across the city.

Times have changed. Today, international cricket has become a regular feature in Guwahati.

India are all set to face West Indies in the second ODI on September 30 at the ACA Stadium. But for many cricket fans, it is just another match.

“Yes, now things are different. Hosting a major sporting event in Guwahati has become a routine affair for the city.

Guwahati has come of age in that regard. As a veteran, I feel great to see this change,” former cricketer Shankar Datta Lahkar told The Assam Tribune.

The 79-year-old, who also played table tennis and football, has seen Guwahati and its sporting scene grow over the last five decades. He said the change has been significant.

“The city has come of age in hosting major international sporting events. In our times, any international match would create a hype for months.

The facilities were not great but even then it was a major event for those days. We would wait with great hope,” Lahkar said.

Recalling the India-Zimbabwe match in 1993 at the Nehru Stadium, he said fans eagerly waited for such occasions. “The stands were full since 7 am and the match was supposed to begin at 9:30 am.

It was March, so you can imagine the atmosphere. But we all enjoyed the game,” he recalled.

“It used to be a different kind of excitement whenever an international match was held in Guwahati. People would discuss the match for days and getting tickets was also a big thing.

Now we have seen international cricket become a regular feature, so the excitement may not be the same, but the interest in cricket is still there,” said Guwahati-based cricket fan Ankur Das. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the regular hosting of international cricket reflected the city’s growth as a sporting destination.

“It is a matter of immense pride and personal satisfaction to see Guwahati host yet another ODI (One Day International). This occasion is a reflection of the remarkable journey of our city, which has steadily emerged as one of India’s leading sporting destinations.