As the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, India, appeared nearlyempty on the first day of the highly anticipated International CricketCouncil (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, former cricketer VirenderSehwag proposed a solution to attract fans: “offering free tickets.”
The defending champions faced New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium onThursday, but the sight of empty stands and few spectators surprisedeveryone. Social media users criticized India for failing to draw a crowdfor the tournament opener. Sehwag suggested the “free tickets” idea, citinga lack of interest in the 50-overs game.
The former Indian opener advised the organizers of World Cup 2023 toprovide free tickets to school and college students for matches notinvolving India. Taking to Twitter, Sehwag explained that improved accessfor young fans could reignite their interest in the sport, especially sincethe popularity of one-day internationals is currently declining.
“Hopefully, after office hours, more people will attend. But for matchesnot featuring India, free tickets should be given to school and collegechildren. With waning interest in the 50-over format, this will helpyoungsters experience a World Cup game, and players can perform in front ofa full stadium,” Sehwag wrote on the microblogging site.
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The match, held at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, is arematch of the epic 2019 final when England won a tied game on boundarycountback.
