Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad feels the BCCI have ‘messed up’ in the months leading up to the ODI World Cup 2023. Prasad who had earlier lashed out at the prospect of having a reserve day for the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super clash, took to social media to point out the multiple issues where BCCI could have done better, in his opinion.
The schedule of the ODI World Cup was delayed, and after it was announced, there were multiple changes made to the schedule, India’s group-stage clash against Pakistan was originally slated to be played on October 15 and it was preponed to the 14th.
Then, the tickets were put on pre-sale and fans lashed out on social media after they were made to wait in queues, with waiting times going up to 11 hours. All these issues clearly haven’t put BCCI in good light and Prasad feels these issues are down to the mismanagement of the BCCI staff.
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In three separate social media posts on X, (formerly Twitter), Prasad made his frustrations clear.
It takes one corrupt, arrogant guy to take away the hardwork of an organisation that is generally non-corrupt and get a stamp of corruption on the whole leadership , not just on a micro level but at a large level.— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 9, 2023
“There is no debate and doubt on the fact that we have messed up the lead up to the World Cup. Unreasonable delay in schedule in the first place and if that wasn’t enough changing the schedule hampering 5 matches in the process, if that wasn’t enough a completely non-transparent and inefficient ticket system only encouraging black marketeers,” he wrote.
There is no debate and doubt on the fact that we have messed up the lead up to the World Cup. Unreasonable delay in schedule in the first place and if that wasn’t enough changing the schedule hampering 5 matches in the process, if that wasn’t enough a completely non-transparent…— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 9, 2023
The Indian legend added, “It is a proud moment to be hosting a World Cup and it should have been a great time for the fans but these difficulties for the fans doesn’t look unplanned . It’s time we wake up and not make this incompetence a norm just because “Yes Men” around don’t want to speak up. It is a matter of national prestige.”
We have a good team and are strong contenders for the World Cup but we need genuine fans inside the stadium cheering for the team and their experience needs to be far smoother and easier than what it has been ,and for that the BCCI needs to do far better than they have done so…— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 9, 2023
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“We have a good team and are strong contenders for the World Cup but we need genuine fans inside the stadium cheering for the team and their experience needs to be far smoother and easier than what it has been ,and for that the BCCI needs to do far better than they have done so far. It is a reflection of the country as a whole and we as a nation should not be let down at any cost,” Prasad wrote further.
After the fans’ complaints on social media, BCCI had recently announced the release of 400,000 tickets in the next phase of ticket sales, starting from September 8 onwards, saying that the Indian board acknowledges the fact that fans are the ‘heartbeat of the tournament’.
The apex cricket board has also been giving away golden tickets to legendary figures such as Amitabh Bachchan, and Sachin Tendulkar among others.
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