ICC announces public ballot process for World Cup semi-finals, final tickets

BANGALORE - The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday announced the process for the public sale of tickets for the World Cup semi-finals in Colombo and Mohali, on March 29 and 30 respectively, and the final to be held in Mumbai on April 2.

When the tickets were initially programmed to go on sale on February 21 the demand was so great that the website was overloaded.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said that the ballot will open on Monday.

“It was most unfortunate and no blame should be directed at Kyazoonga, the ICC’s official ticketing partner, as no one could have anticipated that tens of millions people would be trying to access the site an hour before it went live. In truth Kyazoonga have been an innocent third party in all the issues we have had with ticketing,” Lorgat said.

“In conjunction with the hosts, we have now agreed that a ballot system is the best means of releasing any available tickets for the semis and final. The high demand clearly proves the massive attraction of the World Cup and format of 50 overs cricket,” he added.

In dismissing media perceptions about a letter addressed to ICC President Sharad Pawar, Lorgat added: “To help resolve our ticketing challenges we have also engaged the offices of ICC President Pawar to assist us as he has done with several other issues related to World Cup planning.”

Lorgat also reflected on the fact that two contractors had been arrested in Sri Lanka for selling tickets on the black market.

“We will support and encourage the actions of Sri Lanka Cricket in having such persons arrested for black market selling. It must serve as a warning that we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who abuses the system and sells tickets illegally,” Lorgat said.

The ballot process is as follows:

STEP ONE:

You may apply for the ‘Ticket Public Ballot’ from February 28 to March 6.

You need to fill in a the Public Ballot application form at https://cwc2011ballot.kyazoonga.com

A ticket limit of two tickets per applicant applies. Only one application per person.

STEP TWO:

You will receive a Ballot Confirmation Number once you complete and submit your application. No up-front payment is required at this stage.

STEP THREE:

Please read and follow the instructions carefully before completing the form. If you break any of the rules all tickets you may be offered will be cancelled.

All Ballot applications must be submitted no later than March 6.

STEP FOUR:

The draw will be made by computer on March 10 and successful applicants will be informed by e-mail on March 11. If you have not heard from Kyazoonga by March 12, please assume that your application was not successful in the ballot.

STEP FIVE:

Successful applicants will be able to pay for their tickets through Kyazoonga’s secure payment processing website where they will be shown the transaction amount and asked to pay online using credit card/debit card/net-banking. If your transaction is not successful, your place in the draw will be offered to the next polled applicant from the draw.

STEP SIX:

Upon successful payment completion, you will receive a confirmation page and email. Please print the page and keep the e-mail. You will receive your tickets from the third week of March. (ANI)