Huge chaos hit World Cup ticket sales Sunday as thousands of Bangladeshis long queued in capital Dhaka for a first chance to buy them over the counters.
Many waited for even more than 20 hours and camped overnight for a ticket, boosting hopes for the organizers that the fans will pack stadium during all the eight matches of the ICC World Cup Cricket- 2011 to be held in the South Asian country.
Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka will co-host the 2011 World Cup Cricket in which 14 countries and regions are expected to participate.
In line with the decision of the International Cricket Council's decision, Bangladesh will host eight matches including the inaugural one on Feb. 19 and two quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has started selling of tickets through two local designated banks -- The City Bank (OOTC:CTBK) Ltd. and Agrani Bank Ltd.
The first day of the ticket sales for the World Cup Cricket-2011 has resulted in chaos, with long queues, some more than one kilometer. Thousands of cricket-loving people started lining up since Saturday, the wait came to an end lastly at 10:00 a.m. local time Sunday.
Several outlets in different area of the city also saw clashes between the police and the cricket fans in which one photographer of a local Bengali daily was reportedly injured.
Hundreds of cricket-lovers thronged some 80 ticket outlets in the city from Saturday morning to secure tickets for the World Cup 2011.
But in all practicality, no more than 480 tickets can be sold on a day from a single booth, a City Bank official said.
Md. Shohel, a varsity student who is very keen to a have a ticket and lined up since Saturday, said, "If needed I will stay another 10 days here but I will not return in vacant hand."
Faria Ethar, pilot of a local private airlines who also queued up, said, "I need at least two tickets -- one for me and another for my boy friend. I don't like to miss the opportunity of enjoying at least one match of the World Cup to be held in our country for the first time."
Though many of the cricket fans in the queues at the end of the day were seen in very much dejected mood having failed to secure ticket but some of them who obtained tickets laughed heartily.
"I'm very happy getting two tickets for two matches thanks God. I would be more happy if I could secure tickets for other matches," said one Imran Ahmed.
A total of 15,127 tickets out of 25,000 for each match will be available for Bangladeshi general people but it was not clear from where the tickets for the dignitaries will come from.
BCB's media committee Chairman, Jalal Yunus, told Xinhua," We have the arrangement for providing tickets to the government and non-government dignataries."
"Cricket is now number one game in Bangladesh. So such a mad rush of fans for ticket is not something unexpected."
Of total 49 matches of the tournament, India will host 29 matches in its eight venues while Sri Lanka will host 12 games in three venues.
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