Today (29/05/2014) around 6 a.m.,
I proceeded towards the Chinnaswamy
Cricket Stadium, Bangalore to buy tickets for the Pepsi IPL-Season-7 Finals to
be played on the 1st June.
I represented an Associate Member
who gave me the authorisation letter as prescribed by the Karnataka State
Cricket Association (KSCA). Their
notification informs that Associate Member can buy upto two tickets for the guests on a
FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED-BASIS I was no.14 in the queue at 7 a.m., while the
official time for issuance of the tickets has been notified as 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. When the counter opened, the
official who entered with a ticket-cum-cash box informed, much to the horrific
logic, that all tickets have been “sold out”.
Those of us who have been patiently waiting were baffled.
No committee member, leave alone
Secretary or other responsible
office-bearer was available for any comment or clarification. The counter-official claimed that his duty is
only limited to parroting “tickets sold out”.
There were hardly about 100
people lined up. The guest-tickets are
marked for “A” Stand, “B” Stand and “N” Stand, which covers more than 20 per
cent of the total capacity of the stadium.
Even if the capacity of the
stadium can be roughly estimated around 50,000, A, B & N can seat easily
10,000 people. At the rate of two tickets
per Associate/Representative, it would have hardly come to about 200 tickets.
But straightaway declaring “all
tickets sold out” smacks of not just colossal arrogance, but warrants a deep
and detailed investigation. Different
versions were shared in the ticket distribution hall. One person said that tickets are totally with
the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) control and they have
committed the tickets of the said Stands to Franchisees and Sponsors. Another one said the stadium is in the hands
of RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore). A
third one: “KSCA is in overall charge of the administration”.
How do you term it when you
announce “all tickets sold out” to the first person standing in the queue? Who is accountable for this racket? Even in cinema theatres, only few tickets may
find the “black market”. Is this always
the pattern? And, is this the pattern in
all the stadiums throughout the country?
Also, while the letter signed by
the Secretary, KSCA said the ticket of “N” stand costs Rs.3,000/- the tariff at the counter displays a revised-Rs.4,000/-
per ticket, which was also not available for the law-abiding public.
Disgusted with the response of
the official, a cricket fan in the queue tore the KSCA letter and walked
out. A few discussed that they would
sincerely pray from the depth of their hearts seeking “heavy downpour both on
the 1st and 2nd June”, in addition to mouthing
unprintable epithets.
We are familiar with somebody buying
ticket from the counter and then selling in “black”, whereas, one wonders if the authorities have taken over that job “wholesale”? We are already reading reports about a “number
of websites becoming the best platform for black market”. We also have come across touts outsmarting the
police. We have not forgotten the name of Ratnakar Shetty who was suspended from the Mumbai Cricket Association for allegedly selling IPL match tickets in the black market.
Two items, for sure, are sold
over the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in India. One is liquor, and the other is
IPL tickets. It is obviously a question
of demand and supply. And since the demand
for the 1st June Finals match at Bangalore is enormous and the
tickets are claimed to be “sold out”, those keen to watch at any cost will be
ready to shell out any amount. With
cricket fans returning empty-handed, there are allegations of organisers buying tickets
in bulk and then making a fast back.
Everyone wants to be a part of IPL history and wants to have a glimpse
of their favourite teams/players clash at the biggest cricket event.
Chinnaswamy Stadium is arguably
one of the best stadiums in the country, but the sale of tickets has always
been a contentious issue. With a lot of
simmering anger, I wish to ask if the fraudsters selling the tickets are outside the stadium or do they originate from within?
Also, dear cricket lover, beware
of counterfeit tickets. Remember a couple
of years ago, fake IPL tickets flooding the Bangalore market? It is also relevant to recall a news item
reporting that a legislator who landed up with a fake ticket for the
semi-finals between Mumbai Indians vs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore said: ‘I
paid Rs.20,000 for a Rs.10,000 ticket.
But when I reached the stadium, I was told the ticket was fake. I could not do much, as it would have only
landed me in trouble”.
I also happened to read another
report relating to the first leg of the IPL – 7 tournament held in U.A.E.: “On
a popular classified website, touts are asking Dhs.1,500 for a Dh.80 – ticket to
the tournament’s opening fixture at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Stadium on 16th
April”.
Even as the investigating
officials look into the murky financial dealings in IPL, black marketers and touts are having a field day, thoroughly
exploiting the occasions, sentiments and emotions. Let us
also not forget that when one buys a ticket in black-market, s/he is equally
and obviously becomes the other party involved in the criminal transaction.
Just a thought: Why issuance of tickets should not be
contemplated online-draw basis?
Well. after the various unsavoury deals,
we still buy tickets and watch the match,
when the most serious doubt creeps in: “Is the match original or
fake?” “Is it a sixer or a fixer?”
The recent retirees of the game,
of late, have been mouthing frequently
about “integrity”. We need more transparency
and seek more clarity to the specific issues faced by the game and the cricket
lover, from you guys! Time for you, the
legends, to return something that adds
value to the system!
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Also read: http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2014/05/cricket-where-is-gentleman.html
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