IPL Ticket Shortage Leaves Hyderabad Fans Frustrated

Hyderabad: Cricket fans in Hyderabad are expressing their frustration over the difficulty in obtaining tickets for the last two Indian Premier League (IPL) matches held at the Uppal stadium. They have accused the local cricket governing body, Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and the ticketing agency PayTM of lacking transparency in the sale and distribution of tickets and complimentary passes.

With only five more "home" matches left at the stadium, desperate fans, especially youngsters, are wondering how tickets sell out within minutes. According to reliable sources, tickets and complimentary passes are often given to celebrities, government officials, and influential personalities, or sold through the black market, leaving little for the general public.

"It seems that getting an IPL ticket is even more difficult than obtaining a passport," remarked Pramod Kumar, a cricket enthusiast who was unsuccessful in securing tickets for the recent matches. Fans are disappointed that neither HCA, SRH, or PayTM have addressed the issue.

Former HCA secretary Shesh Narayan has raised the matter with the state government by meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu and MLA G. Vinod to request immediate intervention. Narayan believes that the sale of bulk tickets as corporate boxes is leading to a shortage. He has demanded that the government stop this practice and link ticket sales to Aadhaar cards.

HCA secretary Devraj maintains that the association has no involvement in the IPL ticket sales, which are solely handled by SRH and PayTM. He states that HCA receives 3,900 tickets per match, which they distribute to staff, selectors, and others, but do not sell to the public.

As the IPL season continues, cricket enthusiasts in Hyderabad are feeling frustrated yet hopeful that the state government will intervene to guarantee fair and transparent access to tickets for the remaining matches.