Indore District Administration Demands Explanation from MPCA Over Cricket Ticket Irregularities
The district administration in Indore has formally requested an explanation from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) regarding alleged irregularities in the sale of tickets for the India–New Zealand cricket match held at Holkar Stadium on January 18. This action comes in response to a complaint raised during a public hearing, highlighting concerns about the swift sell-out of tickets and potential black marketing activities.
Complaint Triggers Administrative Action
Former corporator Sanjay Kataria lodged the complaint during a public hearing, pointing out the rapid depletion of ticket stocks and suspicions of black marketing. Taking cognisance of these serious allegations, the district administration issued a letter to MPCA secretary Sudhir Asnani, directing him to provide clarifications within three days. The administration specifically asked whether any procedural lapses occurred during the ticket sale process and requested detailed information about the ticketing procedures and safeguards implemented.
Ticket Sales Details and MPCA Response
All tickets for the highly anticipated match were sold exclusively online through a designated ticketing website, with prices ranging from Rs 800 to Rs 9000. After allocating tickets under student concessions and the quota for persons with disabilities, general ticket sales commenced at 5 am on January 3. According to official information, the entire stock sold out within approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes.
MPCA secretary Sudhir Asnani responded to the inquiry, stating, "We will reply to the letter by Saturday. We have minute-to-minute details of the sale. Even though the complaint says tickets sold out in one minute, the sale lasted for 1 hour 43 minutes." This statement aims to address the timeline discrepancies raised in the complaint.
Technical Issues and Black Marketing Allegations
Despite the official sales process, several spectators reported experiencing technical difficulties during the ticket purchasing phase. More troubling were allegations that tickets were subsequently black marketed at nearly three times their original price. Police reportedly detained some individuals for illegal resale activities, underscoring the seriousness of these claims.
The district administration's inquiry now focuses on whether adequate safeguards were in place to prevent such irregularities and to ensure a fair and transparent ticket distribution process for one of Indore's premier sporting events.
