Less than 4000 people turn up for Pakistan vs West Indies T20I in Karachi

Out of the 32,000 seats in the National Stadium, Karachi, only 4,000 were occupied as Pakistan took on West Indies in the second T20I of the three-match series. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called the low turnout as ‘disappointing’. 

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The PCB allowed full attendance in cricket stadiums after months of COVID-19 restrictions. In an attempt to lure spectators, the board reduced the ticket priced ‘to nearly half of the usual denominations’. Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi also urged fans to come to the stadium to watch the T20 series between Pakistan and West Indies. However, nothing seemed to have worked. 

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“It is really disappointing to see such a low turnout of people for these matches. We were expecting a bigger turnout after reducing ticket prices to nearly half of the usual denominations,” a PCB official said.

Cricket fans claim that coming to the match is like an examination and they face several problems getting into the stadium.

“People say why don’t cricket fans come to the stadiums. But coming to a match is like an examination for us. We have to park our cars at a distance from the stadium and walk all the way and then wait in long queues to get in. It is discouraging for cricket fans,” Bilal, a Pakistan Cricket fan said, as per a PTI report.

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“There is too much security and checking and it gets really tiring waiting for so long to just get into the enclosures,” she said.

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had last week, in a video statement, said that the board is working towards building  better facilities and experience for cricket fans. He announced that the opening of a fans engagement department to facilitate the spectators.

Late heroics from pacer Shaheen Afridi saw Pakistan seal a close game on Tuesday. The home side won by nine runs and now lead the series 2-0.