Apart from the home team’s dominant display, the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka hogged the headlines for poor turnout at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
It was a dead-rubber tie as the Men in Blue had already taken an unassailable lead by winning the first two ODIs.
However, the half-empty stadium didn’t make for good viewing with India scheduled to host the ODI World Cup later this year.
Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh expressed his concern over the lack of spectators, while also raising questions about the relevance of the 50-over format.
“... But concern for me half empty stadium? Is one day cricket dying?" Yuvraj tweeted.
The Greenfield International Stadium has a capacity of 38,000 spectators but only about 17000 turned up for the final ODI, including the complimentary pass holders, vendors, those in the corporate boxes and the ones with accreditation.
Speaking to PTI, Kerala Cricket Association media manager Krishna Prasad said: "We never had a half-empty stadium. There are several reasons. We don't see much interest in ODIs nowadays."
"Moreover, the series was done and dusted in Kolkata (with India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead), and with the opponents being Sri Lanka many people chose not to come to the stadium."
Tickets were priced at Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 for the third ODI. "Not a single ticket was left during the match against the West Indies. It was a rain-affected match and we didn't get to see full 50 overs action, still people packed the stadium," Prasad recalled.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor blamed Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman’s recent controversial comment on the ticket rate for the low turnout.
In a series of tweets, Tharoor said: “The protestors should have boycotted the Minister, not the game.”
“It appears that my statement yesterday regretting the poor attendance at the third India-SriLanka ODI, as a result of the social media boycott urged by fans enraged by the insensitive remarks of the Kerala Sports Minister, has been misrepresented by some,” Tharoor wrote on Twitter.
“Boycotts are a democratic right, but they should target the person against whom the boycotters are protesting. I have nothing against those who were understandably outraged by the Minister’s callous comment that those who can’t afford to buy a ticket need not attend the match.
“The Sports Minister, who didn’t bother enough to even attend the match, doesn’t care if the gallery is full or empty. He was unaffected by the boycott. The protestors should have boycotted the Minister, not the game. The boycott only hurt the future prospects of cricket in Tvm.
“The KCA, which has nothing to do w/the Minister or his insensitive comments, needed a good turnout to bolster its case for Tvm to be selected as a World Cup venue later this year. If the low turnout yesterday is held against us by the BCCI, only sports fans will suffer.
“That’s the point i made yesterday at the stadium. I hear that my comments were only partially reported & have been distorted by some. Hope this thread makes my stand clear, as a cricket fan & as the local MP. I want top-class cricket to flourish in Trivandrum!”
India’s next assignment is the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 18 in Hyderabad.
(With PTI Inputs)
