ICC asks Pawar to intervene over tickets

The ICC has asked its president Sharad Pawar to intervene in a growing controversy over the sale and distribution of tickets for the World Cup. A letter written to Pawar by David Becker, the ICC's legal head, and published by the Indian channel NDTV, warns of the growing discontent among the ICC's commercial partners over tournament tickets due to them and the possible financial fallout.

It has also recommended that the 4,000 general tickets for the World Cup final not be sold at the "box office" but instead "sold to defined cricket fans that are associated with the event and have requested purchase". This, it said, was because the high demand for these tickets created the "potential for chaos and physical injury when the box office sales open". Pawar is the chairman of the tournament's Central Organising Committee and a former president of the BCCI, where he still enjoys considerable influence (He is also president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, which is responsible for the Wankhede stadium). As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the hosting agreement makes the national boards (the hosts) responsible for the distribution, stamping and printing of gate tickets and hospitality tickets; it also says the hosts "will exercise strict control" to conduct efficient orderly production and distribution and hospitality. "It is apparent that certain Hosts have failed to comply with this requirement," the letter said. The sale and distribution of tickets among the public has become a matter of concern for two main reasons: the small number of tickets available for the final, and the poor distribution system, online and through snail mail, of tickets to buyers. Becker's mail says the issues have been regularly highlighted at Board level in recent months. "We understand that Kyazoonga have been unable to distribute all of the tickets purchased online by customers some months ago for the reason that they have not as yet received all the physical tickets from the respective cricket venues/associations," the letter said. "We have received many complaints from fans who purchased tickets but are yet to receive them despite having paid for these tickets more than six months ago and being informed at the time that these would be couriered to them by early February. Apart from the threat of claims for compensation from these customers, this is causing a significant public relations issue for the ICC. "We also know that the Kyazoonga website crashed on several occasions yesterday due to the massive demands placed on the system when tickets for the final were placed on sale." The letter also deals with the supply of tickets to the ICC's commercial partners. It said the ICC had not received any tickets for matches in the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and had received complaints from its commercial partners, "who have paid millions of dollars to receive rights and benefits which include the timely provision of tickets and hospitality". It notes the impact this could have on the relationships with these partners and says it is "highly likely that some or all of them" will seek compensation from the ICC and/or withhold payments. The letter quotes an ICC commercial partner writing to CEO Haroon Lorgat saying, "This is an $80m sponsorship and to say you are bound by the BCCI is inexcusable."

"The ICC is awaiting a response from him [Pawar] to decide on further course of action," Colin Gibson, the tournament media director, told PTI.

The problems with ticketing have arisen because the BCCI chose to print and distribute tickets through multiple state associations rather than one central ticketing agency. This has led to delays in the physical tickets being made available for those who have bought them online and the inability to forward the sponsors share of the tickets so they can invite their guests to games. For example, the tickets for Sunday's India v England match which has been shifted to Bangalore were only received on Wednesday. Whenever it was brought into discussions over the course of the past year, the hosts had informed the ICC that matters were under control. As the tournament got underway, the lack of centralised control that has led to ticketing chaos. Organisers say that the official ticketing agency, Kyazoonga.com, has not been informed about how many tickets will made available for online sale and at what cost for the Mohali semi-final on their website. It says, however, that such claims for compensation from either disgruntled fans or unsatisfied commercial partners will be set off against any distributions due to the relevant hosts. ICC chief Pawar is in New Delhi today and will be at the Kotla match between West Indies and South Africa and is expected to discuss the issue with officials.