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Curtain up on Cricket World Cup and battle for survival

AFP . India
05 Oct 2023 16:18:05 | Update: 05 Oct 2023 19:25:02
Curtain up on Cricket World Cup and battle for survival
Fans arrive to watch the 2023 ICC men's cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, 2023 — AFP Photo

England and New Zealand opened the Cricket World Cup on Thursday faced with a largely empty stadium -- and those in the crowd donned tops and face paint in the national colours of India.

England's (L) and New Zealand's players stand for the national anthems before the start of the 2023 ICC men's cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, 2023 — AFP Photo

A ripple of excitement went through the crowd as the England players made their way into the world's biggest cricket arena, a 132,000-seater stadium named after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It's just huge to watch the World Cup... you can understand the excitement," said Zubair Ahmed, a fan with his cheek painted in the Indian flag colours of orange, white and green, as the game got underway in Ahmedabad in western India at the start of a marathon tournament.

The opener is a rematch of the epic final in the 2019 edition when hosts England won the tied game on boundary countback at Lord's in London.

But the numbers of fans were low at the start, with just a few hundred trickling into the mega-stadium and the vast majority of seats empty.

Temperatures sizzled around 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) with blazing sunshine, but those fans in the seats were undeterred, donning colourful costumes in the stands.

Amid the India flags, some fans were out to support the playing teams.

England skipper Jos Buttler has a strong fan base in cricket-mad India, as he plays for the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals.

"Jos is the boss," said Santosh Dodiya, wearing an England jersey with the captain's name across the back. 

"It's my first time here and I am excited to watch my favourite player at this huge stadium."

Dodiya had travelled for over 500 kilometres (340 miles) from the neighbouring Rajasthan state.

"I have especially come to watch him bat," he said. "Of course I want India to win, but England should reach the final."

Free tickets

Jyoti Malhotra, wearing a sari in Indian tricolour flag colours, said she was just "so excited" to be at the match.

But the big game she is looking forward is the tournament's blockbuster clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

"I'm still looking for an India-Pakistan ticket," she said. "I'll be here for the final, hopefully India-Pakistan."

The match on October 14 in Ahmedabad is the most anticipated clash of the 50-over showpiece event.

With seats already all sold out, the fans have been turning to the black market and touts, with tickets for a normal stand costing 2000 rupees ($24) shooting up more than 25 times in cost to as much as 50,000 rupees ($600).

Fan Zubair Ahmed said if he could, he would go.

"It's the most loved match in the world," he said. "The kind of emotions that flow when India win are so great, I can't explain it in words."

Despite the buzz, organisers fear stadiums will continue to look empty if fewer than 50,000 fans turned up for Thursday's game -- a likely scenario in matches not involving India.

The women's wing of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party sent out messages offering as many as 40,000 free tickets for Thursday's opening match to women, a senior party leader said.

When Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met in March, watching a Test match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, school children were brought in to fill the stands.

Thousands of people then left after both prime ministers departed after the first hour.

Root hits first fifty of Cricket World Cup

England batsman Joe Root hit the first half-century of the Cricket World Cup on Thursday as the defending champions took on New Zealand in the tournament's opening game.

The former England Test captain raised his 37th ODI half-century off 57 balls laced with two fours and one six off a reverse scoop shot.

England reached 166-4 in 30 overs.

The 13th edition of the World Cup has 10 teams and will run for 45 days in 10 Indian cities with the final in Ahmedabad on November 19.

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