Imagine the charged atmosphere if India were to play Pakistan in Cricket World Cup quarterfinal match at Motera on March 24. Fans would be delirious, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) authorities would be in overdrive to manage rush at ticket windows, and police wouldbe on tenterhooks after intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike during the match.
It may be too early to decide on India's opponents for quarterfinal clash given that most teams have afew of matches to go in their own group. But expectation is already building up. Motera's pitch is known to be batsman-friendly and if Tendulkar & Co tick, India would be one step closer to making history. But in the end, how many fans will get seats for the crucial match? Tickets have already become a touchy issue in World Cup with angry fans being lathi charged in Nagpur & Bangalore after they couldn't get into stadiums for India matches.
GCA wants no chaos in ticket distribution, there is a possibility that very few may be left for the fans. A GCA official said, "After obliging the ICC, sponsors, Board for Control of Cricket in India, district associations, former players, ministers and bureaucrats, fewer tickets may be left for the public. But we will ensure more fans get in than in Chennai, Nagpur or Mumbai."
"We will decide on number of tickets for sale in a day or two," said GCA secretary Rajesh Patel. He had earlier told Times of India that at least 50 per cent tickets would go to the public. India will play its last league match in Nagpur on March 20 and arrive in Ahmedabad on March 21.
