Now, TNCA says it’s not able to host India-WI match under new free tickets rule

The difference between the attendance in Test and limited-over matches in these parts of the world is that between chalk and cheese. And it is being witnessed during the Windies’ ongoing tour of India as well. While the Saurashtra Cricket Association had a tough time in getting the stands filled for the first Test at SCA Stadium in Rajkot, the venues that will host the limited-over matches have a different story to share.

On October 5, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) wrote to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealing its inability to host the third T20I between India and Windies in Chennai on November 11 if it was given only 10 percent of complimentary tickets.

“Yes, we have sent a letter to the BCCI on Friday. It is not possible for us to conduct the match on these terms. If it comes to it, we are prepared to lose the match,” Sporstar confirmed by quoting a TNCA official as saying.

“As per court decree, we have to hand over around 1100 tickets to the Madras Cricket Club which is also housed in the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Then we have to give tickets to life members, patrons, and more than 180 TNCA affiliated clubs.”

The official also said that the host association has to meet demands from several other agencies for complimentary tickets in lieu of the services they get and putting a ceiling on the free tickets makes it difficult for them.
Under the BCCI’s new complimentary ticket ceiling rule, as much as 90 percent of the tickets should be put on public sale and a number of state associations are not okay with it.

An ODI has already been shifted

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association has already informed the BCCI about its inability to host the second of the five ODIs between India and Windies scheduled on October 24 because of the free tickets rule and the match was shifted from Indore to Vishakhapatnam.

The Cricket Association of Bengal, which is hosting the first T20I on November 4, has also expressed its concern over the number of complimentary tickets at its disposal.

For more news and developments, stay tuned on CricTracker.com.