ICC announces public ballot process for cricket tickets

The ICC on Saturday announced the process for the public sale of tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-finals in Colombo and Mohali on Mar 29 and 30, respectively and the final to be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2.

When the tickets were initially programmed to go on sale on Feb 21 the demand was so great that the website was overloaded.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, announced in Bengaluru that there will be a public ballot system similar to that which is used in the majority of global sporting events. The ballot will open on Monday 28 February.

Lorgat said: ?It was most unfortunate and no blame should be directed at Kyazoonga, the ICC?s official ticketing partner, as no one could have anticipated that tens of millions people would be trying to access the site an hour before it went live. In truth Kyazoonga have been an innocent third party in all the issues we have had with ticketing.

?In conjunction with the hosts, we have now agreed that a ballot system is the best means of releasing any available tickets for the semis and final. The high demand clearly proves the massive attraction of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and format of 50 overs cricket.?

In dismissing media perceptions about a letter addressed to ICC President Sharad Pawar, Lorgat added: ?To help resolve our ticketing challenges we have also engaged the offices of the ICC President Mr Pawar to assist us as he has done with several other issues related to World Cup planning.?

Lorgat also reflected on the fact that two contractors had been arrested in Sri Lanka for selling tickets on the black market.

Lorgat said: ?We will support and encourage the actions of Sri Lanka Cricket in having such persons arrested for black market selling. It must serve as a warning that we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who abuses the system and sells tickets illegally.?