In a scathing critique, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani has taken aim at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the strikingly vacant stadium during Thursday’s high-profile World Cup match held in Ahmedabad. Mevani’s censure characterizes the episode as a ‘fiasco’ and raises concerns regarding the transparency of the ticketing process orchestrated by the cricket governing body.
Allegations of Free Tickets for Women Spark Controversy Amidst the uproar, allegations surfaced suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had distributed a staggering 40,000 complimentary tickets to women, ostensibly to commemorate the passage of the women’s reservation bill. Mevani, however, questioned the timing of this largesse, as ticket sales had reportedly concluded in the first week of September—well before the bill’s enactment. This has inevitably raised queries about the origin of these additional tickets allocated to women.
Accusations of Misleading Information and Underwhelming Turnout Mevani contends that cricket enthusiasts were kept in the dark and that women were enticed with misleading information, including the erroneous belief that the match was an India-Pakistan showdown, in an attempt to bolster stadium attendance. Despite the generous distribution of complimentary tickets and snack coupons, the stadium bore a glaring vacancy, leaving many puzzled.
Empty Stadium Explained In response to the stadium’s eerie emptiness, an official explained that it can hold a staggering 130,000 spectators. However, only 47,000 were expected on the first day of the match. This discrepancy between capacity and actual attendance contributed to the stark visual of an underutilized stadium.
Unverified Video Fuels Speculation Adding to the intrigue, an unverified video has been circulating, featuring women who claim to have received free tickets from BJP members with the assurance that it was an India-Pakistan clash.
A Call for Prioritizing the Spirit of Cricket Concluding his critique, Jignesh Mevani passionately implored the BCCI to uphold the ethos of cricket as a gentleman’s game, free from political maneuvering. He underscored the perilous consequences that could befall the sport if such practices persist, emphasizing the need to safeguard the integrity of cricket.
