Turnstiles set to turn as ODI ticket sale surges on Day 1

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 6

Ahead of the second India-Sri Lanka One Day International here on December 13, a huge rush was witnessed across various ICICI Bank branches and ticket counters at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium on the opening day of the of ticket sale. Like previous years, many cricket lovers had to return empty handed.

“There was heavy rush on the first day of ticket sale. Nearly 2,000 tickets were sold today across the counter. We are expecting a huge rush in the coming days,” said RP Singla, honorary secretary, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA).The ticket seekers, meanwhile, alleged that the authorities sold students’ tickets without screening the valid identity cards. They also said many people were given tickets in bulk.

The Tribune team also witnessed a number of people buying more than four tickets. However, RP Singla trashed the allegations.

“These are all allegations. We have a system in place and no one is given more than four tickets. The students’ tickets are also been given after proper screening of identity cards. Rest, we will check it on Thursday,” he said. Interestingly, a large number of housewives were seen waiting in the queue to buy the match tickets.

“Shorter queues for women make majority of families send their female members to purchase the tickets. This is another tactic to buy the tickets,” said one of the ticket vendors.

Even as people waited eagerly for their turn to buy tickets, their patience was tested as the ticket window at the stadium opened and closed intermittently. Minor scuffles and heated arguments were also witnessed.

In one of the incidents, people alleged that the police personnel were using their power to buy tickets in bulk.

When crosschecked, the police personnel deployed at the venue refused to comment and left. Heated arguments outside the stadium

People waited eagerly to purchase outside the stadium and their patience was tested whenever the ticket window opened throughout the day. Many minor scuffles and heated arguments were exchanged. In one of the incident, people alleged that police personnel were using their powers to buy tickets in bulk. However, when crosschecked, the police personnel deployed at the venue refused to comment and left. 

Long wait, arguments outside the stadium

People waited eagerly to purchase outside the stadium and their patience was tested whenever the ticket window opened throughout the day.