The ICC T20 World Cup window has clashed with the examination window in India, resulting in the rejection of DDCA’s offer for various school students to come to watch non-Indian games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
India is hosting the ICC T20 World Cup this time, and matches have been scheduled at multiple venues across the country. One of the various such venues includes Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, where five matches have been scheduled in this World Cup.
The iconic venue of the Arun Jaitley Stadium, formerly known as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, has witnessed many such prestigious games. The ground is known as one of the famous tracks, often said to be one of the finest batting tracks in India.
India vs Namibia, ICC T20 World Cup match tickets sold out as expected
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host several ICC T20 World Cup matches, starting with the first game between Netherlands and Namibia on Thursday, February 10.
The second match is scheduled to be played between India and Namibia, and with all tickets for that game sold out as expected, demand for complimentary passes is higher than expected.
Match likely to be scheduled at Arun Jaitley Stadium Tuesday (Netherlands vs Namibia, February 10), Thursday (India vs Namibia, February 12), Friday (February 13, UAE vs Canada), Monday (February 16, Afghanistan vs UAE), and Wednesday (February 18, SA vs UAE).
DDCA’s offer to Delhi schools rejected amid exam season
On the other hand, DDCA is upset with the empty stands at Arun Jaitley Stadium. So the DDCA has approached schools across Delhi for non-Indian matches so that children can watch the proceedings when they are in uniform.
“We approached several schools, but due to CBSE as well as annual examinations along with tournaments, institutions are not willing to send their students to watch non-Indian games. In fact, there is no demand for tickets except for India games.”
CSBE exams will be held during the same period, and with the exams starting next week, schools have rejected DDCA’s offers to bring students to watch non-Indian sports.
“Unlike the Wankhede Stadium, which had 17,000 spectators for the Nepali fans, the Kotla will be less than half full to save the India match,” a senior DDCA official overseeing the arrangements told PTI on condition of anonymity.
DDCA cites main reason for empty stands in matches at Arun Jaitley Stadium
DDCA members claimed that empty stands were not suitable for good TV audiences, and hence, they attempted to bring in school children.
“Empty stadiums don’t make for good TV, the vast expanse of galleries is an eyesore. So, bringing school children is a good idea. But we have matches on Tuesday (February 10), Thursday (India, February 12), Friday (February 13, UAE vs Canada), Monday (February 16, Afghanistan vs UAE), and Wednesday (February 18, SA vs UAE).
He joked, “If you see, keeping India sports in mind, all the matches are on weekdays. Also, the timings for non-Indian sports are 11 am (3 games) and 3 pm (1 game). How do you expect the youth to come? People don’t even want premium tickets for non-Indian games.”
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