There are rumors that the India-Pakistan match on Sunday was postponed because of rain. This is the second time that an Indo-Pakistan match in this Asia Cup was intruded on because of downpour. Previously, rain also halted the India-Pakistan match.
The ACC had originally made the decision to move the Super 4 matches from Colombo to Hambantota, but they later decided to reverse their decision despite knowing that there was a possibility of rain, according to reliable weather channels. All of the remaining games, beginning with this epic encounter between India and Pakistan, are expected to be played in Colombo with rain forecast. With the match being canceled, the ACC’s choice is presently being massively reprimanded.
Sri Lanka Cricket has lowered the price of match tickets from $10,000 to $500. Additionally, the average price of ODI game tickets in Sri Lanka has recently hovered around $250 ($0.78). With the Island nation serving as joint tournament hosts with Pakistan, the board saw an opportunity to make some money. Colombo was picked as the scene for the Super 4s remembering the last for September 17.
The cost of match tickets was climbed to 10,000 rupees for the competition. Rain has, however, hampered the tournament thus far. The Super 4 match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Colombo only attracted 7000 spectators. The majority of the stadium at the venue, which has a capacity of 35,000 people, was empty.
The cost of the match tickets has now been reduced by up to 95% in order to entice returning fans to the venue. This includes the India-Pakistan match tickets, which can be had for as little as 500 rupees.
The unexpected climb in the match tickets had chafed the fans. After a disturbance in the foreign exchange market that resulted in widespread protests that ultimately led to the removal of its president, the nation recently experienced some critical times as a result of shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
“Pakistan have kept the ticket pricing too high and that has kept fans away from the stadiums,” a local Sri Lankan official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“Ticket costs… are way beyond the reach of a common man. This is bizarre. We tried to reason with the PCB but they had their reasons as they have lost out on money, maybe” he added.
Officials at the PCB have been reluctant to comment on the same. In the interim, the India-Pakistan game has now moved onto the save day (September 11) after it was canceled on Sunday.
