'I don’t think anyone can afford that much money in Sri Lanka' - Muttiah Muralitharan lashes out at PCB for high ticket prices for Asia Cup matches

India versus Pakistan is the most keenly-watched rivalry in the game of cricket. Tickets for the particular game are sold out within minutes, irrespective of which part of the world they play. However, when these two sides met at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for a crucial Asia Cup 2023 fixture, the scene was completely different as about 10,000 people were present in a stadium that holds 35,000 spectators.

For the unversed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in charge of setting the ticket prices for the Asia Cup 2023 as they are the hosts of the six-team tournament. According to legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the tickets are being charged at very high rates, which are not affordable to the people of a country going through a financial crisis.

“It is the PCB who has decided the prices for these tickets as they are hosting the Asia Cup this year. Sri Lanka is currently going through a financial crisis. The ticket prices are really expensive, and they were reduced at the last moment (just before the India vs. Pakistan match in Colombo) but it doesn’t work that way. The ticket prices start from Sri Lankan Rupees 6000 and upwards. If you want to watch the match from the grandstands it is 40000 to 50000 Sri Lankan Rupees, which is equivalent to a person’s monthly salary. I don’t think anyone can afford that much money in Sri Lanka,” Muralitharan said to Cricket Pakistan.

Rain prediction and confusion regarding the venue could also have been reasons for the low turnout: Muttiah Muralitharan

There was heavy rainfall prediction for the day of the India versus Sri Lanka contest. The Asian Cricket Council were given the option to shift the Super Four games of Asia Cup 2023 to Hambantota, where the weather forecast is much better. They eventually didn't opt for the change in venue but Muralitharan felt that the miscommunication confused people. Also, the off-spinner pointed out that people might not have been willing to buy tickets for the game with the weather prediction being quite a dampener.

“The league match between India and Pakistan ended up in a tie (no result) because of the rains. Perhaps, it was because of the rain prediction that people don’t want to take a chance. Also, there was some confusion regarding the venue (from Colombo to Hambantota) of the Super 4 matches and the final. People will be apprehensive to come forward and buy tickets,” he concluded.

In the end, the match was completed in two days, after the reserve day came into effect. India defeated their arch-rivals by a mammoth 228 runs.