Sangakkara feels for fans hit by ticket racket
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara expressed his sympathy on Friday for the home fans after police arrested a World Cup ticket seller for trying to sell tickets at a higher price than permitted.
- Associated Press
- Updated: February 26, 2011 07:05 PM IST
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara expressed his sympathy on Friday for the home fans after police arrested a World Cup ticket seller for trying to sell tickets at a higher price than permitted.
"We feel for the public because we understand how keen the country is to watch these games," Sangakkara said.
Police arrested the man - recruited temporarily by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) - on Thursday while trying to sell nine tickets at 1,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($10 each). The original price of these tickets were 50 Sri Lankan rupees (50 US cents each).
"Unfortunately it happens in more situations where people take advantage of the passion and the love people have for cricket to try and make a quick bucks," Sangakkara said.
The Sri Lanka skipper said his teammates do get five complimentary five tickets each from the SLC, but they also had to buy if they required more.
"Whatever we needed extras and above that, the board was good enough to allow us purchase," he said.
A full house of 35,000 is expected for Sri Lanka's Group A match against Pakistan on Saturday and Sangakkara hoped the fans would back the home team- which aiming for a maiden World Cup win against Pakistan.
"I hope the people who managed to get tickets will be out in force for the people who couldn't and are victims of a ticket racket by outsiders," he said.
"We feel for them. Unfortunately even if they are not at the ground they will support us, watching us on TV."