Online ticketing site crashes, fans bitter

Unaware of MCA’s move to sell the limited 5000 tickets meant for general public online, hundreds of fans wishing to watch Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th and final Test on Monday protested outside the Wankhede Stadium, which will host the landmark match from November 14. Supporters were disappointed about not getting the tickets for the retiring batsman’s farewell Test against the West Indies, at the counters of the stadium. Mumbai Cricket Association on Sunday had decided to sell 5000 odd tickets online to the general public. Unaware of the move, hundreds of supporters started queuing up from early morning, hoping to get the ticket. Fans started shouting slogans against the administrators when they were told that tickets would only be sold online. However, police force present at the stadium soon disbursed the crowd. Around 3,000 tickets were made available for sale, excluding the 1,500 special tickets priced at Rs 10,000. The price category for the online sale was, Rs 500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500. The Wankhede has the capacity to seat 32,000 people. ‘Sachin is from Maharashtra and we are being deprived of getting a chance to view him in live action on this occasion,’ said a fan from Andheri.