'Where is the crowd': Crickets fans surprised to see empty stadium in ODI world cup opener

Amid dearth of tickets for ICC ODI World cup 2023, the World Cup opened to a largely empty Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, leaving viewers and organizers puzzled. The tournament opener, which was expected to draw a massive crowd, saw only a fraction of the stadium's seats filled.

Images broadcasted on television screens showed sparse attendance in the world's largest stadium, with a capacity of over 130,000 seats. This unexpected turnout left social media buzzing with astonishment.

England women's cricket team star Danielle Wyatt expressed her dismay, echoing the sentiments of many cricket enthusiasts who had anticipated a packed stadium. "Where is the crowd!," asked Wyatt.


Meanwhile, the most highly anticipated match of India vs Pakistan, scheduled for October 14 in Ahmedabad, has already sold out its tickets. This high demand has led to a surge in ticket prices on the black market, with the cost of a regular seat skyrocketing from Rs 2000 to as much as Rs 50,000.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, organizers are concerned that stadiums may continue to appear empty if fewer than 50,000 fans turn up for matches not involving the Indian cricket team. To address this issue, the women's wing of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had offered up to 40,000 free tickets for Thursday's opening match to women, in a bid to boost attendance.

As the Men's Cricket World Cup progresses, cricket fans will be watching closely to see if the excitement of the tournament can overcome the challenges of limited planning time and ticket availability, ensuring that the stadiums are filled with the passionate supporters who make cricket a truly thrilling spectacle.