By IANS,
Kolkata: The World Cup is finally back at the historic Eden Gardens, which looks dazzling in its renovated avatar, but the legendary fans – the lifeline of the venue that staged the final of cricket’s biggest show 24 years ago – are giving it a miss.
Only some 2,500 tickets have been sold for the three World Cup matches slated to be staged on the country’s biggest cricket ground this week, beginning with the Ireland-South Africa Group B game Tuesday. Ireland then play the Netherlands March 18, before Zimbabwe and Kenya clash March 20.
“Only 237 tickets were sold today (Tuesday). The total ticket sales for the three games till now is about 2,500. For each game, there were 30,000 priced tickets,” an official of the local organisers, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said.
The ticket sales have fetched a paltry Rs 24.89 lakh, said the official.
However, he was hopeful that almost half of the 59,500 capacity ground would be filled up for each of the games. Eden, which had a nearly one lakh capacity before the World Cup related renovation, is known for its passionate cricket supporters, whose frenzied appreciation of spectacular strokes and incisive deliveries players from all over the globe have found intoxicating.
“Whatever may be the ticket sales, we are confident that there will be around 30,000 spectators during each of the three matches. These comprise tickets distributed by the International Cricket Council, given to our members and complimentaries handed to various people,” said the official.
For South Africa, Eden Gardens holds a special place as it was at this venue that they played their first match – an ODI – in 1991 after their return to cricket post-apartheid.
“I know this is the ground where we returned to international cricket. I think Eden Gardens is a special place to play cricket. Everybody who starts playing the game hears of Eden Gardens,” said South African coach Corrie Van Zyl.
” When we came here last year and played a Test then the stadium was half complete, now it is full. It looks good. We are looking forward to the game,” he added.
Ireland captain William Porterfield was also excitement personified on setting foot at the ground.
“Coming to India, Eden Gardens you always hear of as one of the big grounds. Like going to England and playing at Lord’s. There’s a lot of history at the ground and it’s obviously massive as well.
“The lads are looking forward to getting out there. We’ve obviously got two games here, so its pretty special,” Porterfield added.
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Eden Gardens had a tough time.
Complaining of tardy preparatory work, the ICC took away the Feb 27 India-England game, saying the ground would not be fit in time for the match.
Kolkatans have found it difficult to accept the fact that Eden would not host any India game in the World Cup.
“What sort of matches are these? This is India’s best ground. But how can they give us matches featuring teams like Ireland and the Netherlands,” asked a visibly downcast T.P. Dutta, a banker.
“I am not going to watch any of the games. I would have gone had India been playing. This is the only ground in india so far to host a World Cup semifinal and a final,” said Dutta.
Many other sports buffs share these views as the organisers brace up for vast empty spaces in the stands during the matches.