Big crowds swarm Bangladeshi banks for WCup tickets

DHAKA, (Reuters) – People queued overnight outside   of banks in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka in a desperate   bid to buy highly-prized cricket World Cup tickets, which went   on sale today.
Two leading Bangladeshi banks are selling tickets for   eight matches at the Feb. 19-April 2 tournament, to be jointly   hosted along with India and Sri Lanka, from their 80 branches   across the country.
People started gathering in front of the banks yesterday   morning, braving cool weather but there were expected to be a   number of disappointed fans.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the Sher-e-Bangla   National Stadium, which will host six matches including the   opener between India and Bangladesh, has a seating capacity of   25,167 but only 15,167 tickets are available for local   spectators.
The remainder of the tickets are to be reserved for the   International Cricket Council, foreign visitors and other   stakeholders.
There is a similar situation at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury   Stadium in Chittagong, which will host Bangladesh’s group   matches against England and Netherlands, with 12,521 tickets   made available for locals at the 17,800 capacity venue.
The BCB apologised to the fans yesterday as most of them   will be deprived of a ticket.
“I am trying to get a ticket for World Cup, but it’s very   crowded here,” said Enna Karmakarm, a cricket fan, who was   waiting in front of a bank in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area.
“I am afraid I would not be able get a ticket. But if get   a ticket I will definitely go to the field and enjoy the   match,” said the 26-year-old university student.
Rinku, another cricket fan, who stood in the queue yesterday, was also unsure of his luck.
“I waited here (the) whole night to see World Cup matches,   which will be taking place in Bangladesh for the first time. I   don’t know whether I will get the tickets, but if I get (one)   I will go to the stadium and inspire our cricket team,” he said.