The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 began on Thursday with New Zealand thrashing defending champions England by nine wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 1.33 lakh-capacity stadium, which is also scheduled to host the final, saw a lukewarm response as a majority of the stands appeared to be empty when the match began in the scorching afternoon heat.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been criticised for delaying the sale of tickets and local BJP leaders even distributed free tickets to women to fill the stadium. A man shared on X, formerly Twitter, how he was disappointed with the condition of the seats in the stadium.
Sourabh Pareek, from Nagaur city in Rajasthan, went to Ahmedabad for the opening game. Pareek said he bought a ticket for Rs 2,000 but was disappointed seeing the seats filled with bird droppings. “Hyderabad was not just one example, it’s the same in Ahmedabad for a seat worth 2k,” he wrote.
Hyderabad was not just one example, it’s the same in Ahmedabad for a seat worth 2k #cwc2023 #ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/fZ73SSEhMU
— Sourabh Pareek (@CricSourabh7) October 5, 2023
He even posted a video showing the dirty seats. He said it is not just one or two seats but entire rows and it seems it hasn’t been cleaned at all. The seats are filled with dust and bird droppings.
For those who are saying, bas ek seat kharab hai, you can judge yourself., iam here in the stadium and iknow the condition. #ENGvNZ #CricketWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/yZ1R5xo3ep
— Sourabh Pareek (@CricSourabh7) October 5, 2023
Earlier, a man shared photos from Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium during a warm-up match between Australia and Pakistan showing deplorable condition of the seats. C Venkatesh, a cricket writer, analyst and commentator, shared several photos and videos showing the spectator seats filled with bird droppings. “Nothing much has changed in Uppal stadium. Only some window dressing and spectator comfort still not taken care of in full,” he said in a tweet.