With less than a month to go for the highly anticipated Men’s ODI World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host board, has made a significant announcement regarding ticket sales.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the BCCI confirmed that the “general sale of tickets” for all matches of the World Cup will commence from 8pm IST on September 8. The statement also hinted at the possibility of additional ticket releases in the future, stating that “fans will be notified of the further sale of tickets in the next phase in due course.” However, details regarding this next phase were not disclosed in the announcement.
These newly released tickets come as a surprise to many, as the original phased approach for online sales (excluding the knockouts) was slated to conclude on September 3. ESPNcricinfo has learned that these tickets are part of an unexpected second phase aimed at meeting the overwhelming demand from cricket fans.
The decision to release these additional tickets was made in collaboration with the state associations responsible for hosting the World Cup matches. It is understood that these associations were requested by the BCCI to allocate a specific number of tickets, typically meant for their members, for inclusion in the public ticket quota.
The BCCI had previously faced criticism from fans and stakeholders for unveiling the tournament schedule just 100 days before the event and making subsequent changes, which further delayed the ticket release. In response, the board acknowledged the high demand for tickets and expressed its commitment to accommodating as many passionate cricket fans as possible in this historic event after discussions with the hosting state associations.
“The BCCI deeply acknowledges that fans are the heartbeat of the tournament, and their unwavering passion, engagement, and contributions are pivotal to the success of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023,” the statement emphasized.
The original ticket sales plan, revealed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) concurrently with the revised schedule, outlined seven phases of ticket releases, beginning on August 25, 41 days ahead of the tournament opener. The phases were structured as follows:
- August 25: Warm-up and World Cup matches not featuring India
- August 30: India warm-up matches in Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram
- August 31: India World Cup matches in Chennai, Delhi, and Pune
- September 1: India World Cup matches in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Mumbai
- September 2: India World Cup matches in Kolkata and Bengaluru
- September 3: India World Cup matches in Ahmedabad
- September 15: Semi-finals and final
In comparison, the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales had ticket sales commence in September 2018 and reopen on March 21, 2019, due to the immense demand for tickets.
The 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup is set to begin on October 5 with a thrilling clash between England and New Zealand, a rematch of the 2019 final, in Ahmedabad. Matches will be hosted in ten cities across India, with the first round featuring all ten teams facing each other. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, with the final taking place in Ahmedabad on November 19.
