Pakistan Cricket Team Affected by Absence of Fans in India-Pakistan Clash
In a recent match between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur revealed that the absence of Pakistani fans in the crowd had a negative impact on the team’s performance. With no Pakistani fans issued visas to travel across the border, the stadium lacked their usual presence. Only a small number of Pakistani journalists and Pakistani-origin fans who are residents or citizens of other countries managed to attend the match.
Arthur expressed his disappointment, stating, “Look, I’d be lying if I said it did not affect us. It didn’t seem like an ICC event, to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event.” His comments highlight the significance of fan support in boosting a team’s morale during crucial games.
In response to Arthur’s remarks, ICC chairman Greg Barclay downplayed the criticism, claiming that such comments are common during tournaments of this nature. Barclay emphasized the need to take into account the feedback received and work towards improving future World Cups. “This event’s only at the start. Let’s see how the whole thing plays out and we’ll go away and we’ll review what could change, what we can do better, how we can improve World Cups and the general offering around cricket,” he stated optimistically.
Although the India vs Pakistan match witnessed a record-breaking crowd both at the venue and globally, the official attendance figures have yet to be released. The Ahmedabad stadium, boasting a capacity of over 110,000 seats, stands as the largest cricket ground in the world.
ESPNcricinfo has reached out to both the ICC and the BCCI, the hosts of the tournament, for further clarification regarding the ticket sales and official attendance figures. Despite these inquiries, no response has been received so far. The lack of transparency surrounding the number of seats available for sale and the allocation of tickets for the marquee India vs Pakistan clash has raised questions about the fairness and accessibility of the ticketing process.
As the tournament continues, cricket fans eagerly await updates and hope for a successful and outstanding World Cup. The organizers have an opportunity to address the concerns raised and work towards creating an inclusive and memorable sporting experience for all.