Unfairness from BCB

Tickets were all sold out but numerous empty seats painted a different picture in a 25,000 capacity stadium. This has been a common scenario in the last few years. Will it be the case when the first ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan takes place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today?

There is a possibility of a similar scenario again at the home of Bangladesh cricket in Mirpur because of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's peculiar policy, which has been depriving the paying public from getting hold of the much-sought after tickets.    

As per UCBL officials, the vendor for selling tickets, they have got 45 per cent tickets for the first ODI, which were sold within two days.

But believe it or not, the BCB reserves the remaining 55 per cent of tickets, which is 13,750 for different stakeholders. It is not understandable why the board is keeping such a big volume for 'complementary' beneficiaries at the expense of the paying fans.

There was a time when the board actually kept 25 per cent tickets for its corporate clients, affiliated club and district officials and former cricketers. But the popularity of cricket has unfortunately increased complementary stakeholders, who are growing like mushrooms following a lax or to some extent politically motivated attitude from the board.

It's pathetic to see the seats vacant as many 'dignitaries' don't turn up, denying a real fan, whose sleepless night in queues could not permit him to get hold of a precious ticket and that too with his own hard-earned money.

"The range of dignitaries is increasing day by day," fumed a BCB official, who wished not to be named. But this statement only suggests that the board is certainly is not playing proper cricket off the field.