With just under a month remaining until the inaugural match of the men’s ODI World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as the host board, has unveiled plans to release a substantial 400,000 more tickets in the upcoming phase of ticket sales.
According to a statement from the BCCI, the “general sale of tickets” for all World Cup matches is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm IST on September 8. Fans can anticipate further updates on ticket availability as the next phase unfolds, although the statement did not provide specific details regarding this phase.
These additional tickets come as part of a phased approach aimed at meeting the overwhelming demand from cricket enthusiasts, though this batch’s sale was not previously announced. The initial phased approach for online sales, excluding the knockouts, concluded on September 3.
The BCCI collaborated with state associations hosting World Cup matches to determine the number of tickets available for sale. These associations were requested to release a designated number of tickets, typically reserved for their members, which have now been included in the public ticket quota.
The BCCI faced criticism from fans and other stakeholders for releasing the tournament schedule only 100 days before the event’s commencement and subsequently making adjustments, further delaying the ticket release. The statement from the board acknowledged the high demand for tickets and expressed its commitment to accommodating as many passionate cricket fans as possible through discussions with the hosting state associations.
“The BCCI deeply acknowledges that fans are the heartbeat of the tournament, and their unwavering passion, engagement, and contributions are pivotal to the success of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023,” the statement emphasized.
As per the original ticket sales plan outlined by the ICC, tickets were set to be available in seven phases starting from August 25, 41 days before the tournament opener.
Date’s:
- August 25: Warm-up and World Cup matches not featuring India
- August 30: India warm-up matches in Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram
- August 31: India World Cup matches in Chennai, Delhi, and Pune
- September 1: India World Cup matches in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Mumbai
- September 2: India World Cup matches in Kolkata and Bengaluru
- September 3: India World Cup matches in Ahmedabad
- September 15: Semi-finals and final
In comparison, for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales, tickets were made available in September 2018 and then again on March 21, 2019, in response to the high demand.
The 2023 World Cup is set to commence on October 5 with a match between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Apart from Ahmedabad, nine other cities across India will host World Cup games, including Hyderabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The ten teams will face each other in the initial round before the semi-finals and the final, scheduled for November 15, 16, and 19, respectively.