The rivalry between India and Pakistan is often regarded as the biggest and the most fierce in the world. Owing to the fact that the two Asian giants only play each other in ACC and ICC there is a lot of excitement and buzz among fans, however, the craze for the biggest rivalry in the world was not at its optimum on Sunday, September 10 as fans were missing and stands were largely empty for the Asia Cup Super 4 clash.
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Hafeez shared shocking images of empty stands for the India vs. Pakistan Super 4 clash in Colombo. While Hafeez said that he never ‘expected’ such a response from fans in Sri Lanka, throughout Asia Cup 2023, many matches have seen fans stay away and plenty of empty seats during games.
Sri Lanka themselves were in action on Saturday against Bangladesh in the Super 4 clash and the stands were empty for the home team’s game as well, that too in a multi-nation tournament.
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“Never witnessed such response from fans of cricket towards #PAKvIND game. #AsiaCup2023 @ACCMedia1 Empty stadium," wrote Hafeez on X (formerly Twitter), sharing images of empty stands for the India vs. Pakistan game.
Hafeez has been covering the Asia Cup games from the press box at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the former Pakistan spinner was clearly disappointed with the turnout.
Responding to the fans being absent from the Stadium an official of Sri Lanka Cricket hoped that the ticket sales and crowd turnout would improve as the tournament moves on.
“With the rain staying away, we were expecting a good turnout. But tickets are still available offline and online. In fact, the ticket rate too has been slashed but we are yet to see a big rush. Hopefully, it will pick up," the SLC official was quoted as saying by PTI.
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While the tickets for India vs. Pakistan ODI World Cup clash are high in demand and being resold for a staggering amount, the Asia Cup games have not managed to attract a similar buzz from fans.
Sri Lanka Cricket has also tweeted about the price reduction of tickets for all the Super 4 matches, including the one between India and Pakistan.
Ticket prices for the C and D Upper Block sections of the Stadium were slashed to LKR 1000 and the prices for C and D Lower Block tickets were fixed at LKR 500.
For the unversed, the price reduction will only be applicable for the Super 4 matches and the prices will jump up for the Asia Cup 2023 final.
When quizzed about why the India vs Pakistan fixture failed to attract a decent turnout, the SLC official responded that rain could be a factor.
“Perhaps, it was because of the rain prediction that people don’t want to take a chance, or may be the local interest is not there," the official responded.
PCB officials meanwhile have questioned the Asia Cup games being played in Sri Lanka despite the rain factor, and a PCB official on conditions of anonymity stated that rain has been the factor behind the low attendance.
“It is tough to organise cricket matches in Sri Lanka at this time of the year as it rains there more often than not. But then, a decision has been made and now we have to go ahead," the PCB official was quoted as saying.
India meanwhile were off to a blistering start riding on half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, but rain halted play after the two openers were dismissed.
Colombo, Sri Lanka