News
T-20 semi-finals, final ticket prices go sky high like sixes!
The T-20 Cricket World Championship frenzy is drawing to an end, but the ugly side of this tournament has surfaced with the resale of tickets in the blackmarket at prices 1000% over the marked price.
While the International Cricket Council (ICC) priced tickets at a nominal rate to encourage and enable people from all income groups to see the matches, unscrupulous middlemen have exploited the situation to make big money.
An ‘agent’ involved in the resale of tickets, told the Sunday Times how he was able to earn huge profits from a relatively minimal investment, in a very short period of time.
 It’s a near stampede for tickets at the Sport Complex at Thurstan College as Cricket-crazy Lankans get news of the sale of 3,000 tickets. Pix by Indika Handuwala and Amila Gamage |
 It’s all about getting your tickets: Brisk selling at the ICC counter at Thurstan College (above) and (below) tickets at a price from one party to another and an angry gesture by the blackmarketeer’s accomplice who sees our photographer taking a picture. |
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 Over the wall: At least Deputy Minister Abdul Cader gets a helping hand |
Amidst the growing demand for tickets, last week, about 3,000 tickets were put up for sale at the Thurstan College Sports complex, following a request by the ICC.
On Thursday, about 6,000 persons thronged the Sports Complex where tickets were sold for the semi-finals. Most of these tickets were being resold in the vicinity of the Premadasa Stadium where the matches were being played.
Within minutes there was absolute chaos at the premises with people coming to blows to get their hands on a ticket. Police had to put up barricades and bring in water cannon to control the crowd. This tense situation also led to heavy traffic congestion in the area.
According to the blackmarketeers, it is easier to resell the tickets at a higher price near the stadium. The latest release of the 3,000 tickets was made despite an earlier announcement that all semi-final tickets had been sold out.
However, ICC-appointed Operations Manager Shane Fernando said these 3,000 tickets became available after the cancellation of tickets by the Indians, as India did not qualify in the final stages.
At the venue a number of people were seen reselling the tickets they purchased from the official counter, at a much higher price.
Mr. Fernando said that nothing can be done to prevent the resale of tickets.
The ICC had restricted the sale to four tickets to each person and the National Identity Card details recorded to deter resale.
The Sunday Times learns that semi-final tickets priced at Rs. 120, Rs. 250 and Rs. 770 were sold at prices ranging from Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 8,000, and tickets for the finals were going at prices ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000.
One ‘agent’ said a number of travel agencies have bought tickets from him at higher prices, for their foreign clients who insisted on match tickets.
Deputy Minister A.R.M. Abdul Cader was among those scrambling for tickets last Thursday. He had to be helped over the wall into the Thurstan College Sports Complex pavilion to purchase tickets.
On a visit to the vicinity of the Premadasa Stadium, three-wheeler drivers were the touts reselling tickets.
A fruit vendor in the area, when asked where one can get tickets, said there are a number of people reselling tickets opposite the Maligawatte Police Station.A South African couple who arrived in the country on the day of the first semi-final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, got their tickets within two hours after requesting their travel agent for tickets. The travel agent issued them Rs. 770-tickets at Rs 3,500, saying the high price was because it was a last minute request.
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