Only about one-fifth of the tickets for Wills International Cup Cricket now remains to be sold as cricket lovers in a mad rush grabbed the prized entry passes on the very first day of sale on Tuesday.
``IFIC Bank confirmed that around 80 per cent tickets were sold in first five hours of sale,'' said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury.
Quoting bank officials, he said people's demand was very high for tickets of the matches involving the sub-continental teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Bank officials said a comparatively less demand was seen for the inaugural match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe on October 24 and a quarter final between England and South Africa the following day.
The ticket sale on the first day was also marked by damaged window-panes following pelting of stones on the IFIC Bank's Federation branch at business hub Motijheel, where only VIP tickets were sold. Many dejected cricket fans returned without ticket.
As they didn't want to miss the cricket carnival that will feature all the nine-test playing nations, people thronged different branches of the IFIC Bank in the capital. Since early morning, they waited in long queues for the start of the grand sale of ticket at 9 am.
Many of them were seen returning with deep frustration when the day's ticket sale closed at 2 pm with thousands of others still waiting in queues for entry passes to the country's biggest cricketing show.
``I'm deeply frustrated ... I waited in the line for four hours. But the ticket sale was over before I reached the counter,'' said Dipak who had come to Malibagh branch of IFIC for tickets of India-Australia and Pakistan-West Indies.
Dipak, however, does not want to think that all is yet over. ``I'll come again tomorrow,'' said the 28-year-old textile engineer who works in a private organisation.
After Tuesday's experience of people's demand for the Wills Cup tickets, the BCB President said they would consider introducing the lottery-system, followed in World Cup, for any such tournament in future.
ICC enquires about Dhaka situation
International Cricket Council (ICC), the organiser of the Wills International Cup, has enquired about the situation in Dhaka in view of the opposition's hartal (general hartal) on October 22.
The ICC made the queries to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to let them know whether the prevailing political situation will create any problem in holding the tournament.
BCB President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury told sports reporters Tuesday that the ICC is a bit concerned about the situation, but at this stage they've no alternative than to hold the tourney as scheduled from October 24.
The BCB president, however, hoped that the opposition would call off their Thursday's hartal for smooth holding of the Wills Cup.
Meanwhile, a parliamentary standing committee on Youth and Sports Ministry comprising members from the ruling and opposition parties Tuesday unanimously decided that there will be no programme of political agitation during the tournament.
After the meeting, the Committee members visited the games venue at Bangabandhu National Stadium to see the preparation of the 9-nation Wills Cup.
The BCB president said ``We earned the rare honour of hosting the prestigious tournament after giving an assurance to the ICC of stable political situation during the highly rated tourney as well as of some infrastructure development needed for it.''
He said ICC chief Jagmohon Dalmiya met with the government and opposition leaders in Dhaka a few months back and both the sides agreed to extend their full support to host the tournament in Dhaka.
Weather Experts hope rain will not affect Wills Cup
Despite the current cloudy weather, experts are optimistic that rain would not affect the Wills International Cup ``Monsoon is over. Light to moderate rainfall is taking place due to a low, but its impact may be over before the inauguration of the tournament,'' said Met Office Director Ershad Hossain.
He said a low that developed in the Bay was staying in the adjoining areas of West Bengal and Orissa after proceeding towards north-west. It will move north-east and may cross over northern parts of the country.
``Since the low will start to move north-east, it will start to become weaker as wind is strong. It means that rainfall will stop before the Wills Cup begins October 24,'' said the Met Director.
He informed that there is no sign of low in the Bay that could cause rainfall in the country, including capital Dhaka. ``Climate history indicates very light rainfall towards the end of October, but it should not hamper the tournament,'' he said.
Met Office forecast the wind speed in the last week of October to be 7-10 kilometre in Dhaka in the evening when the day-night matches will be going on. However, wind speed in the morning will be 3-5 km.
Quoting weather experts, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury also hoped there will be no disruption because of rainfall.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has already announced that the bowls-off system of tie-breaking will be followed if any match of the tournament is abandoned for rain or any other reason.
Event Manager Asif Iqbal informed that for the tie-breaking, five bowlers from each side will bowl twice to empty wickets. And sudden death will apply if the match still remains tied after the 20-delivery, he said.