Empty stands as nomads Pakistan launch WC bid
Thursday, 24 February 2011
HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, Feb 23 (AFP): Thousands of tickets went unsold for the Pakistan-Kenya clash at Mahinda Rajapakse stadium Wednesday as cricket's nomads launched their World Cup bid.
The sparse crowd was a far cry from the Sri Lanka-Canada clash on Sunday, the first international match at the 35,000-capacity stadium, which saw thousands pack the stands.
Pakistan was originally slated as one of the host nations for the World Cup but a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 -- which killed eight people and wounded seven visiting players, saw it lose those rights.
No international side has toured the country since, making them the nomads of international cricket, forced to play on neutral venues such as in the United Arab Emirates.
"It would have been nice to have played before our home crowd, but because of unavoidable circumstances we are playing on neutral venues, which would see less crowds and less support, but that's not a problem," captain Shahid Afridi said on Tuesday.
Local organisers said thousands of tickets were left unsold as a non-Sri Lanka match, played on a working day, had not enthused the crowds but they said gates would be opened later to allow more fans in.
Pakistan's famous fan Chacha (Uncle) Cricket Suif Abdul Jalil turned up but was disappointed with the lack of fans.
"I covered a long distance to come here but there are not many people to mix their voices with me while I chant slogans," said Jalil, sponsored to attend all the Pakistan matches by a soft-drinks company.
"I hope people come in large numbers in the next matches," he said.
The organisers brought in schoolchildren for free to fill the stands.
"I have come from Tissamaharama town to support our friend country Pakistan and it's lovely to be at a World Cup match," said Ashen Thakshila, wearing an all-white school uniform.
The sparse crowd was a far cry from the Sri Lanka-Canada clash on Sunday, the first international match at the 35,000-capacity stadium, which saw thousands pack the stands.
Pakistan was originally slated as one of the host nations for the World Cup but a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 -- which killed eight people and wounded seven visiting players, saw it lose those rights.
No international side has toured the country since, making them the nomads of international cricket, forced to play on neutral venues such as in the United Arab Emirates.
"It would have been nice to have played before our home crowd, but because of unavoidable circumstances we are playing on neutral venues, which would see less crowds and less support, but that's not a problem," captain Shahid Afridi said on Tuesday.
Local organisers said thousands of tickets were left unsold as a non-Sri Lanka match, played on a working day, had not enthused the crowds but they said gates would be opened later to allow more fans in.
Pakistan's famous fan Chacha (Uncle) Cricket Suif Abdul Jalil turned up but was disappointed with the lack of fans.
"I covered a long distance to come here but there are not many people to mix their voices with me while I chant slogans," said Jalil, sponsored to attend all the Pakistan matches by a soft-drinks company.
"I hope people come in large numbers in the next matches," he said.
The organisers brought in schoolchildren for free to fill the stands.
"I have come from Tissamaharama town to support our friend country Pakistan and it's lovely to be at a World Cup match," said Ashen Thakshila, wearing an all-white school uniform.