ODI World Cup 2023: Fan registers FIR against Indian Cricket Board, CAB and ticketing partners, accusing them of facilitating black marketing of tickets

The ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 has provided fans with thrilling cricket action. Nevertheless, the ticket booking process for this event has left many fans frustrated. They have had to endure lengthy virtual queues, only to find tickets sold out at the last minute. Before the highly anticipated India vs. South Africa match scheduled for November 5 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. A fan has lodged an FIR against the Indian Cricket Board (ICB), BookMyShow, and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) over allegations of World Cup ticket black marketing.

According to the complaint, many tickets intended for the general public were allegedly acquired by the ICB, CAB, and BookMyShow. In addition to this, these tickets were then funnelled to black-market sellers for profit. In response, the Kolkata Police acted swiftly and sent notices to the CAB and BookMyShow. The notice requires their officials to appear on Thursday to cooperate with the investigation.

This development follows the recent arrest of an individual in Kolkata. The individual was apprehended for selling tickets to the India-South Africa match at inflated prices, charging 11,000 rupees instead of the official price of 2,500 rupees. The FIR states that these organizations did not make a substantial number of tickets available to the general public, instead opting to sell them to black market operators to maximize their profits.

There have been no statements issued yet from ICB and BookMyShow

It’s important to note that the ICB and BookMyShow have not yet stated these allegations. It’s worth mentioning that multiple incidents have emerged during the ongoing tournament, with fans reporting the sale of World Cup tickets at significantly inflated prices in black markets. Some ardent supporters have also encountered counterfeit tickets being openly circulated, underscoring the challenges faced by those eager to experience the cricketing spectacle in India.

As the World Cup continues with 16 more games remaining, including the highly anticipated semi-finals and final, fans eagerly anticipate greater transparency in the ticket-selling process by the Indian Cricket Board and BookMyShow. This transparency is crucial in ensuring that fans can enjoy a memorable World Cup experience.