Asia Cup 2023: Pics of empty seats for India-Pak clash go viral
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Colombo: The excitement and buzz that accompanies the India-Pakistan cricket match and the electrifying atmosphere that usually makes the cricket match between the two nations a pulsating spectacle, were absent on Sunday, as fans stayed away and stands were largely empty during their Asia Cup Super 4 clash.
Pictures of vacant seats for the match have been doing rounds on social media.
Former Pakistani cricketer Mohammed Hafeez also shared shocking images showing vacant seats during the India-Pakistan Super 4 match in Colombo.
Hafeez expressed his surprise at such a response from fans in Sri Lanka, throughout Asia Cup 2023, where numerous matches witnessed sparse attendance and plenty of unoccupied seats during the games.
Even during Sri Lanka's Super 4 clash against Bangladesh, the stands remained largely empty, highlighting the lack of local support in a multi-nation tournament.
“Never witnessed such response from fans of cricket towards #PAKvIND game. #AsiaCup2023 @ACCMedia1 Empty stadium," wrote Hafeez on X (formerly Twitter), sharing images of empty stands for the India vs. Pakistan game.
Also Read:Asia Cup 2023 super four and final matches to remain in Colombo despite weather concerns
Hafeez has been covering the Asia Cup games from the press box at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the former Pakistan spinner was clearly disappointed with the turnout.
Responding to the fans being absent from the Stadium an official of Sri Lanka Cricket hoped that the ticket sales and crowd turnout would improve as the tournament moves on.
“With the rain staying away, we were expecting a good turnout. But tickets are still available offline and online. In fact, the ticket rate too has been slashed but we are yet to see a big rush. Hopefully, it will pick up," the SLC official was quoted as saying by PTI.
While the tickets for India vs. Pakistan ODI World Cup clash are high in demand and being resold for a staggering amount, the Asia Cup games have not managed to attract a similar buzz from fans.
Sri Lanka Cricket has also tweeted about the price reduction of tickets for all the Super 4 matches, including the one between India and Pakistan.
Ticket prices for the C and D Upper Block sections of the Stadium were slashed to LKR 1000 and the prices for C and D Lower Block tickets were fixed at LKR 500.
The price reduction will only be applicable for the Super 4 matches and the prices will jump up for the Asia Cup 2023 final.
When quizzed about why the India vs Pakistan fixture failed to attract a decent turnout, the SLC official responded that rain could be a factor.
Also Read:Asia Cup 2023: floodlight failure halts Pakistan vs. Bangladesh super 4 match
“Perhaps, it was because of the rain prediction that people don’t want to take a chance, or may be the local interest is not there," the official responded.
Meanwhile, a spell of heavy rain halted the play between India and Pakistan on Sunday.
India were 147 for two in 24.1 overs when rain lashed the Premadasa Stadium here.
Virat Kohli and K L Rahul were batting on 8 and 17 respectively after openers Rohit Sharma (56) and Shubman Gill (58) struck fine half-centuries.
India's Asia Cup opener against Pakistan was called off due to rain.
The organisers have added a reserve day for this India-Pakistan clash. If the match can't be completed today, it will resume tomorrow.
The weather has been a subject of intense debate through the Sri Lanka leg of Asia Cup.
Rain is expected in the Sri Lankan capital throughout the tournament.
With inputs from agencies
Also Read:Ex-PCB chief hits out at BCCI sec. Jay Shah over choosing Sri Lanka as venue