400,000 ticket applicants for India vs Pakistan World Cup game, reveals tournament Director Steve Elworthy

There is little denying the fact that there are very few games bigger than an India-Pakistan fixture that too in a World Cup. Perhaps this is the reason that there is a huge demand for the marquee clash in the upcoming World Cup despite the widespread calls for the boycott of the game in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. There has been a huge uproar in the entire nation against Pakistan since the attack on the CRPF convoy.

The attack claimed the lives of more than 44 personnel and left several fatally injured. Despite the anti-Pakistan wave going on in the entire nation and the relation between the two countries further deteriorating, more than 400,000 applicants have been received by the ICC for the 25,000 seater Old Trafford stadium where India and Pakistan are scheduled to lock horns on June 16.

ICC World Cup tournament director Steve Elworthy, during a promotional event in London, said that demand for tickets for the game is at an all-time high. He revealed that the demand is way more than Australia vs England game or even the final at the Lord’s.

“That particular game (India vs Pakistan), we had over 400,000 applications for tickets, which is an incredible number. The stadium (Old Trafford) only holds 25,000 people. So there are a number of disappointed people. That’s just locally, but (there is also) the audience globally,” Elworthy was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Staggering numbers

The former South Africa bowler also revealed the numbers to show the demand for the game. “To put that (number) in perspective, England vs Australia was around 230-240,000. And the final was around about 260-270,000 applications for tickets. So that gives you a bit of perspective for the demand for this match (India v Pakistan). It’s a big game. They could end up playing each other in the final (too), you never know,” he said.

Well, the last time England had hosted an ICC tournament – ICC Champions Trophy – India and Pakistan had fought it out in the final. The much-awaited World Cup, meanwhile, will start on May 30.

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