Half-empty stands in sold-out Dhaka WC practice match
By IANSThursday, February 17, 2011
DHAKA - The first practice match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the run up to the World Cup saw all tickets sold out but half-empty stands, leading to charges of mismanagement, a media report said Thursday.
The match was sold out, yet seats at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in downtown Mirpur were vaccant because holders of either vouchers or venue tickets could not get in, The Daily Star said.
The waiting cricket fans blamed both, Kyazoonga, an entertainment and sports ticketing company, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
According to official figures, only 13,088 people could find their way into the stadium, for a supposedly sold out game, after the authorities suddenly decided to stop distributing tickets despite many in line holding rightful vouchers for tickets to enter the game.
The host Bangladesh, meanwhile, lost the practice match.
The World Cup opens here Thursday.
