City’s Sachin fans disappointed

Techies from one of the well-known MNCs in the city did not want to miss out on Sachin Tendulkar’s final match. They wanted to book more than 80 tickets from Hyderabad for the match which would be held between November 14 to 18, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. But unfortunately tickets were hard to get. The techies were disappointed as they wanted to watch their ‘God’ play for India for the last time.

There are only 4000 tickets on sale. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is selling only 10% of the total tickets. The capacity of the ground is 33,500 seats. “We are selling limited tickets to the general public. Many are heartbroken as they cannot see the little master walking out after his final innings,” Said Arvind Kamle of the MCA. So, where would rest of the tickets go? The MCA officials, former players, celebrities and VIPs including politicians would be given the preference. It’s but natural that fans, who are ready to spend a fortune travelling by flight to buy expensive tickets, are feeling betrayed.

“My friends in Mumbai were trying for the tickets but this looks like a star studded match. So commoners would not get tickets. I had blocked my tickets to Mumbai but would now cancel them,” says a disappointed Ajay who works with Gray Matters.

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted “Hope ticketing at Wankhede Stadium and Eden Gardens is fan friendly. Can’t have only few tickets available for the general public as in the past, this was not to be.”

If one is to be reminded, even for the world cup final in 2011 in Wankhede stadium, MCA had sold only 4000 tickets to the public. Looks like fans would have to satisfy themselves by watching the match on TV or listen to the live coverage on All India Radio.