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There are still tickets but too costly

By Syed Ashfaqul Haque
28 October 1998



Want a ticket for the sell-out matches? You can still grab one if you are willing to pay 5-7 times the normal price.

As the tournament is growing older, the tickets on the 'black' market are becoming more and more expensive.

A few touts were seen selling the elusive entry passes at an exorbitant sum all around the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, the rest day of the 10-day Wills International Cup.

Prices of the Tk 120 and 150 gallery tickets shot up compared to the past days with the blackmarketeers asking as much as Tk 800 to 900 each.

Frustrated fans, who couldn't jump the long queue at the 13 IFIC outlets which sold the tickets, found no other means but to fork out on their love for the game.

In Monday's quarterfinal between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, gallery tickets were sold in front of the stadium for Tk 200 to 300 each.

Those of the pre-quarterfinal between Zimbabwe and New Zealand were in abundance but touts were still active, albeit losing money selling tickets for Tk 80 each.

Meanwhile, BCB supremo Saber Hossain Chowdhury told newsmen yesterday that the tickets of all categories, from gallery to the VIP, for the rest of the matches, had already been sold out.

``There're no tickets for October 28, 29, 30, 31 and for the November 1 final at the bank,'' said the cricket chief.

Fans, still looking for tickets, have been requested not to go to the bank or the counters at the stadium anymore.

Law and order sub-committee has also beefed up its measures in the wake of the five sell-out matches. It was learnt that the committee would not allow even children without ticket to enter the stadium with their parents.

None of the spectators will also be allowed to get out of the big bowl before the lunch break, said a sub-committee source.

BCB has also urged the fans not to carry crackers, sticks or anything that might pose threat to the security.


Source: The Daily Star, Bangladesh
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