Sports- Muttiah Muralitharan blasts PCB over its decision in ACC
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Muttiah Muralitharan, the former Sri Lankan spinner, has taken a critical stance against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their decision to set exorbitantly high ticket prices for the much-anticipated India and Pakistan matches during the 2023 Asia Cup. His concerns were expressed regarding the unreasonably steep costs of tickets, and he squarely placed the blame on PCB for this situation. Muralitharan pointed out that it was the PCB who had determined these prices, as they were the hosts of the Asia Cup that year.
Furthermore, Muralitharan highlighted the financial crisis currently faced by Sri Lanka, which compounded the issue. The ticket prices, initially set at a significantly high rate, were only reduced just before the India vs. Pakistan match in Colombo. However, Muralitharan stressed that such last-minute adjustments were insufficient.
Ticket prices ranged from a staggering 6000 Sri Lankan Rupees and soared upwards. To witness the game from the grandstands, it would cost an astounding 40,000 to 50,000 Sri Lankan Rupees, equivalent to an average person's monthly salary. This exorbitant pricing, he argued, placed the matches beyond the reach of most Sri Lankans.
Despite Sri Lanka's traditionally passionate cricket fan base, Muralitharan lamented that the high ticket costs had deterred many from attending the matches. He pointed out that, under normal circumstances, Sri Lankan stadiums would be packed to the brim with eager spectators whenever a match took place.
People genuinely wanted to be part of the excitement and watch their favorite teams play. Still, the exorbitant ticket prices acted as a significant barrier to their participation, even during matches featuring the home team, such as the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh game.
Adding to the factors affecting attendance, Muralitharan noted that the weather forecast predicting rain ahead of the India and Pakistan Group A match further discouraged potential ticket buyers. This combination of unaffordable prices and weather concerns resulted in near-empty stadiums for some of the most anticipated cricket matches, a disappointing outcome for both fans and the sport itself
