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I am writing to highlight the shortcomings that affected thousands of cricket lovers during the ICC Champions Trophy Day/Night matches at the Premadasa International Cricket Stadium from 13th Sept. to 29th Sept. 2002. This was a wonderful opportunity for cricket lovers in Sri Lanka to watch all the test playing countries plus Kenya and Holland. But our enjoyment was unfortunately marred by the lack of many important facilities that are readily available at international cricket venues abroad.

Despite these obvious shortcomings after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy series the SL media was extremely generous to the organisers, the BCCSL officials with accolades such as "Bouquets for the BCCSL from ICC", "ICC hails SL for a spectacular tournament successfully concluded" etc. Of course, it does not come as a surprise that all ICC officials, umpires, players and media personnel were well satisfied as exorbitant amounts of money were spent on taking care of them. Hence obviously they had no complaints regarding the facilities offered to them.

Thus it is very unfortunate that the hardships undergone by cricket lovers were not highlighted. Despite the colossal amounts of funds spent by the organisers, the parking and toilet facilities as well as the public transport arrangements left much to be desired.

No buses were arranged by the organisers for spectators of day/night matches which usually end around 10.45 p.m. No parking facilities were provided for thousands who travelled in vehicles from other cities to an unfamiliar venue. Requests made repeatedly for public transport arrangements had fallen on deaf ears.

Another significant shortcoming was the fact that the standard advertisement, announcing that tickets for all matches were available at Cargills Food City outlets, BCCSL and at the gate continued to be telecast and published in the print media even after the tickets had been sold out for the important matches.

Thus before the start of important matches fans clocked to the grounds from the early hours of the morning. No information was conveyed over the public address system that all tickets had been sold out leading to about 10,000 cricket fanatics who were helplessly stranded outside the Premadasa International Stadium. Despite the obvious importance of such a tournament the organisers did not have the foresight to erect a giant screen outside the stadium. For that matter the organisers could not provide a giant screen even inside the stadium.

Security was however very tight especially for the non-affluent fans who were subject to comprehensive body checks as liquor was totally prohibited.

Only liquids in plastic bottles were allowed and some beverages were even tasted to check whether they had been laced with liquor. However only the less affluent fans were subjected to this indignity.

Some service personnel in civvies who flashed their identity cards were allowed in without being subjected to any scrutiny. Some official Pajeros and Jeeps packed with friends, kith and kin were allowed into the official car park without any obstacles.

Another shortcoming was the lack of TV monitors: 95% of the stands were devoid of TV monitors which is a shame for an International Cricket Stadium.

I watched the final with some Indian fans who had flown in all the way from India. They were surprised that there were no TV monitors, proper toilets, IDD phone boothes.

For that matter even a local call box was not installed inside the stadium. I watched the curtain raiser match against Pakistan with my family. We had to undergo severe discomfort inside a packed stand where many have entered without tickets.

We entered the stadium at 11.00 a.m. and could not answer call of nature until we came home at 11.00 p.m.

There was neither room to leave our seats nor had access corridors to reach the inadequate toilets as the stands were jam packed. The ladies and foreign visitors were particularly affected.

Due to the lack of toilet facilities, an unbearable stench of urine emanated from many parts outside the stands and the car park area which hindered our keen enthusiasm and interest in the match.

As for refreshments a glass of beer was sold at Rs. 50 while the price of short eats from Keells Super were also exorbitant and only the affluent were able to afford them. Drinking water was also very scarce. Within the stadium stands there is not a single tap for drinking or to wash the hands.

In the midst of all this suffering, officials had VIP treatment in their air conditioned boxes in the grandstand pavilion. Once I watched the match (SL vs Holland) from a grandstand seat but even there the TV replay facilities were very poor. Only one section of the grandstand had TV facilities to view replays. Given the above, it could be said that the happy picture of proceedings at the International Cricket Stadium which emerged from the media was extremely superficial and was far removed from the reality undergone by the fans.

These drawbacks have to be brought to the notice of the officials of BCCSL who have not shown any concern for the interests of the great majority of cricket fans.

I strongly suggest that the Chairman of the Interim Committee and the CEO of the BCCSL watch a match from a packed stand in order to get an idea of the sufferings and frustrations of cricket fans and then make suggestions to remedy these deficiencies prior to the next international match to be played at the Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Sunil Thenabadu, Mt. Lavinia

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