New York: As arch-rivals India and Pakistan get set to meet once again in a cricket match, this time at the modular Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9, the palpitations are high, and according to community sources, the skyrocketing prices amid alleged black-marketeering of the tickets have left many disappointed.
Official match ticket prices set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) are $300 (now sold out), $400, $2,750, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500 and $10,000. According to sources, the top-end tickets are being resold for as high as $15,000, even at a much higher rate to $20,000, for the Diamond Club section.
A group of shocked cricket lovers are even planning to lodge a complaint about the high India-Pakistan cricket match prices with Anne T Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney, according to sources. The surge pricing of the tickets for the India-Pakistan match is set to help organizers rake in millions of dollars in extra as resale prices for these tickets have soared to unimaginable levels.
Although tickets for other India matches are also being resold at higher prices but not as high as those for the high-voltage India-Pakistan match at the 34,000-seat stadium. According to the ICC, the four drop-in pitches cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass have now been installed at the ground while the north and south premium hospitality and media pavilions structures are on track for imminent completion.
“We are delighted to see a world-class facility ready for the best cricketers in the world. We can't wait to see fans experience their own bit of history, with hospitality options across all matches in New York, including India and Pakistan, we would encourage fans to book now before they sell out,” according to ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley.
Meanwhile, former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi also criticized the ICC for allegedly prioritizing profits over promoting the game in the USA. In a post on X, Lalit Modi said: "Shocked to learn that ICC is selling tickets for Diamond Club at $20000 per seat for the #indvspak WC game. The WC in the US is for game expansion & fan engagement, not a means to make profits on gate collections. $2750 for a ticket It’s just #notcricket #intlcouncilofcrooks,” he tweeted.
Some media reports even claimed that the match's most expensive ticket price went up to a whopping $22,000. The T20 World Cup will begin on June 1 in the West Indies and the USA.
India's campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, followed by the titan clash with Pakistan on June 9.
The Men in Blue will later play tournament co-hosts USA (June 12) and Canada (June 15) to wrap up their Group A matches.
