The lead-up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has been marred by delays and uncertainties that have left cricket fans questioning the priorities of tournament organizers. The revised schedule for the World Cup, set to commence on October 5, was announced on August 9, just weeks before the event’s start. This last-minute revelation has not been accompanied by the expected apologies or explanations, leaving fans to wonder about the impact on their travel plans.
The most glaring issue is the timing of ticket sales. Tickets for the 2023 ODI World Cup will only become available to the public from August 25, a mere 41 days before the first match. Furthermore, those wishing to purchase tickets for matches involving India, or contests against India, must wait until August 31 to September 3. This tight timeline poses significant challenges for fans, especially those from countries requiring a confirmed itinerary to obtain an Indian visa.
Even for fans within India, the situation is far from ideal. Flight and hotel prices have surged around key match dates, making it a costly affair to plan a visit to the tournament. Those booking travel and accommodation without confirmed match tickets risk falling prey to scalpers and other agencies offering even more exorbitant packages. Consequently, there is a real possibility that matches not featuring India will be played in front of less-than-ideal crowds.
The World Cup’s ten-team format already leaned towards exclusivity, but the potential underrepresentation of traveling fans casts doubt on the “world” in the “ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.”
Questions also arise about the “ICC” part. While the Men’s 50-over World Cup is the ICC’s flagship event, it has remained largely invisible, at least in the public eye, as the BCCI delayed finalizing the schedule and ticketing to an unprecedented extent. Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO, expressed helplessness during the World Test Championship final in June, stating that he had not seen the schedule but hoped to announce it “as soon as we possibly can.”
Ultimately, the schedule was disclosed with just 100 days remaining until the first match, with a revision occurring 43 days later. Subsequently, 49 days passed before the public could register on the ICC website for ticket information, followed by another ten days before ticket sales began.
The reasons behind this late schedule change remain unclear. One theory suggests that Pakistan’s matches coincided with major festivals in Ahmedabad and Kolkata, with local authorities expressing concerns over security for both the festivals and cricket. Shuffling these matches then had a domino effect on the entire schedule.
A different explanation was offered by BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah, who mentioned logistical challenges involving tight turnarounds between certain matches. The change was accommodated even after boards had initially signed off on the original schedule.
The lack of clarity extends to the tournament’s organization. It remains unclear whether the World Cup has a tournament director or organizing committee. While some sources suggest Hemang Amin is the tournament director, there is no public record of his appointment, leaving room for ambiguity.
The 2019 World Cup in England, in contrast, was transparent in its approach. Three years before the event, both the ICC and ECB appointed Steve Elworthy as the managing director of the World Cup, who then formed a local organizing committee. These entities were accountable for delivering a successful World Cup.
If the reason for the delay was indeed festival dates clashing, some leniency can be granted to the BCCI, as bureaucratic surprises are not uncommon in India. Nevertheless, meticulous planning is essential for World Cups. This delay cannot be brushed aside as a mere “Indian thing” without acknowledging the efforts of previous BCCI administrations.
For the 2011 World Cup, the BCCI appointed a public-facing tournament director, Ratnakar Shetty, and formed an organizing committee well in advance. Tickets went on sale as early as June 2010. Perhaps the presence of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as co-hosts played a role in expediting matters.
As the World Cup approaches, fans remain hopeful that the cricket itself will run smoothly, with impeccable pitches, outfields, and facilities. The ICC and BCCI, seemingly unapologetic about the schedule and ticketing delays, may remain unaffected in terms of revenue. However, it’s the regular cricket fan who is likely to bear the brunt of this uncertainty, overshadowing the anticipation and excitement of cricket’s grandest event.
Ajmal Khan