Lanka fans riot to buy World T20 semifinal tickets

Angry Sri Lankan cricket fans caused a near riot-like situation at a ticket counter in Colombo in a desperate bid to buy tickets for the first World Twenty semi-final between Pakistan and the host team.

Ever since the ICC (International Cricket Council) announced that 3,500 extra tickets for Thursday's match at R. Premadasa Stadium were available, thousans of people queued up from as early as midnight although the counter was scheduled to open at 9 in the morning.

The authorities had a tough time maintaining order as people desperate to get ahead broke the line.

Anti-riot police had to be called in to maintain order and meet any emergency situation.

The line for tickets extended for nearly a kilometre but fans were seen waiting patiently in vain even two hours after the tickets had been sold.

Tickets were to be issued on a first-come first-serve basis with each person entitled to buy a maximum of four tickets.

However, disappointed fans criticised the manner in which these extra tickets were being sold.

"Most of these people are not real cricket fans. They are business-minded people who re-sell the tickets which are in high demand for a higher price," said Kuma Jayah, one of the numerous people who had come in the hope of getting a ticket.

He alleged that the blackmarket sale of tickets was thriving because the ICC had once again bungled in how the tickets were being distributed.

"VIP tickets are going for Rs30,000 (all inclusive with meals), Grandstand Rs10,000, upper block Rs7,000 and lower block Rs4,000). It is a shame because real cricket lovers are being denied an opportunity to watch the match," he said.

Another disappointed fan Sohan Fernando said ICC should have sold the extra tickets at the gate and only allowed one ticket person to ensure only matchgoers get a hand on these tickets.

ICC also said that 5,000 plus extra tickets for the final will be on sale on Saturday.

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