MCC confirms full capacity crowd for England-Pakistan ODI at Lord's

Spectators will still have to wear face coverings while moving around the ground

Lord’s will be at full capacity for England’s one-day international against Pakistan, the MCC has confirmed.

The ODI on July 10 will be the first at the ground since the 2019 World Cup final and will be part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme (ERP), which is looking into the return of spectators to live events.

Fans will require proof of full vaccination, a recent negative Covid-19 test or natural immunity via the NHS App.

The fixture falls more than a week before the planned relaxation of restrictions on July 19, and so approval for a full house has come following discussions between the MCC, ECB, DCMS, Public Health England and Westminster City Council.

Guy Lavender, MCC chief executive and secretary, said: “We are heartened to be able to welcome full crowds into Lord’s for the forthcoming encounter between England and Pakistan. To have England men’s first ODI at the Home of Cricket in almost two years and in front of a capacity crowd, will be truly memorable.”

Covid restrictions will be disapplied, but risk-mitigation measures will still remain enforced, including test and trace and hand sanitisation, while face coverings will have to be worn when moving around the ground.

^{The last time Lord's hosted an ODI...}

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston added: “I’m delighted to be able to welcome ODI cricket back to Lord's for the first time since the World Cup Final between England and New Zealand back in 2019.

 “Our science-led Events Research Programme continues to pave the way for a return to fuller crowds through secure testing and use of the NHS App Covid Pass and it’s fantastic that Lords will be back at full capacity on July 10.”

The occasion will be the first time that a cricket match in England has been permitted to be played out at maximum spectator capacity since the final round of County Championship matches in late September 2019.

England’s Test defeat last month against New Zealand at Edgbaston took place in front of 18,000-strong crowds each day – the equivalent to 70 per cent capacity.

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