Why not sell tickets in Suburbs?

Sunil Thenabadu

"Tickets for the future D/N,T/20 matches should be sold at outlets in the suburbs"

Day and Night ODI's and T/20 matches are very popular in Sri Lanka. There are many passionate cricket fans in the suburbs and outstations, who are deprived of the opportunity of witnessing these matches as they cannot be assured of purchasing tickets.

In a Champions Trophy tournament held in Sri Lanka a few years back I was privileged to witness the final at the R.Premadasa Stadium under floodlights from the main stand of the stadium. I was very happy to speak to a number of fans who were close to me witnessing the carnival atmosphere of a day and night match for the first time having travelled from suburbs of the city like Matugama, Agalawatta, Negombo, Dankotuwa, Kurunegala and other long distant towns.

In that particular tournament the Sri Lanka Cricket Authorities had made prior arrangements to sell tickets in advance at Cargills Super Markets in the suburban towns.

This had made possible for these cricket lovers to purchase tickets and ensure that they could enter the Stadium without any hassle. It is a well-known fact that unscrupulous elements in the Maligawatta area purchase tickets in bulk and sell at exorbitant black market prices.

I suggest to the Secretary and the organizing officials to implement this practice so that those in the suburbs too would get the opportunity of witnessing these D/N and T.20 matches with their families.