Cricket fever has gripped Odisha once again as thousands of fans began gathering outside Barabati Stadium from Wednesday evening to secure tickets for the first T20I between India and South Africa, scheduled to be played on Sunday.
Despite biting cold and dense fog, supporters from across the state and beyond refused to be deterred. Wrapped in jackets, sweaters and shawls, many carried newspapers to sit on while waiting overnight. Fans have travelled from far-flung districts like Balasore, Brahmapur, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Phulbani and Mayurbhanj. Women fans too joined the long queues in large numbers.
Only 10,000 tickets have been kept for general public sale, which will begin at 9 am on Thursday from counters near the stadium. Anticipating huge rush, hundreds started arriving from Wednesday evening itself to hold their place in line. By late night, the crowd swelled, prompting police to intervene for crowd management.
Police personnel requested fans to sit in disciplined rows on the road opposite the Sainik School and later shifted them near the Cricket Academy. Zig-zag iron barricades will be used from 6 am Thursday to form proper queues. Authorities have appealed to fans to cooperate to avoid any chaos.
Many fans expressed anguish over the limited number of tickets available for common spectators. With Barabati Stadium having a capacity of around 42,000, supporters questioned why a larger share was not reserved for the general public instead of corporate boxes and VIP passes.
“Cricket seems to be only for the rich and influential these days. Ordinary fans stand in sun, rain and cold but still return empty-handed,” lamented one supporter, recalling similar chaotic scenes during the last international match in February when several people fainted and mild lathi-charge had to be resorted to.
As the sun rises on Thursday, the race for the 10,000 golden tickets will intensify, with many fearing disappointment despite their overnight vigil.
ALSO READ: India vs South Africa T20I: Massive Security Cover for Barabati Stadium Showdown
