Connect with us

Entertainment

Colombo in frenzy as Pak-India T20 clash sells out

Published

on

Colombo in frenzy as Pak-India T20 clash sells out


Pakistan and India fans are pictured with flags inside the stadium before the match, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 28, 2022. — Reuters

COLOMBO: Ticket demand for Sunday’s blockbuster ICC World Cup T20 clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India has sent Colombo into a frenzy days ahead of the first ball at the R Premadasa Stadium, The News reported.

A visit to the stadium’s ticket booths on Thursday showed long, restless queues still forming outside the counters despite officials saying the match had already sold out.

“We do not have any tickets available for the Sunday match. I don’t know why fans are still lining up,” said one of the attendants at the booth. “The entire 37,000-capacity stadium was sold out yesterday. Most of the tickets were purchased online.”

Interestingly, there was no visible ‘Sold Out’ signage displayed at the counters, adding to the confusion among supporters who had travelled from different parts of Sri Lanka and even overseas in the hope of securing last-minute entry passes.

“We have not received any instructions from the organisers to put up a sold-out notice,” another official at the booth clarified when asked about the absence of public information.

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, often dubbed the “mother of all battles,” has historically shattered ticket sales records wherever it has been staged, from Melbourne to Manchester, Dubai to New York. Colombo is no exception. In fact, this is the first time Sri Lanka is hosting a World Cup T20 encounter between the two cricketing giants, making the occasion even more historic and emotionally charged.

Hotels in the city are reportedly operating near full capacity, while airline bookings from Karachi, Lahore, Delhi and Mumbai surged earlier this week. Local transport services and vendors around the stadium are also gearing up for unprecedented match-day activity.

However, where demand soars, opportunists follow.

The black market has already begun operating discreetly around the venue and online platforms. According to local sources, tickets originally priced at Rs 500 are expected to fetch anywhere between Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 or even more on match day.

“You will see a Rs 500 ticket selling for Rs 10,000 on Sunday,” said a local organiser on condition of anonymity. “People purchased tickets in bulk through online portals. Now they will resell them at massive profits.”

Authorities are expected to increase security around the stadium to curb illegal reselling, but experience suggests that controlling the underground ticket trade during an India-Pakistan encounter is no easy task.

For many fans, however, price is secondary to passion. The opportunity to witness Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam take on India’s formidable bowling attack, or to see Indian batsmen square off against Pakistan’s pace battery under lights at Premadasa, is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Lady Gaga thanks fiancé Michael Polansky for making her 40th ‘so special’

Published

on

Lady Gaga thanks fiancé Michael Polansky for making her 40th ‘so special’


Lady Gaga recently revealed she plans on tying the knot soon with Michael Polansky

Lady Gaga just hit a major milestone, and it was made extra special thanks to her fiance Michael Polansky.

After marking her 40th birthday on Saturday, March 28, the pop icon took to social media to share how she celebrated her big day and thanked her husband-to-be for making it a memorable one.

Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the singer spent her birthday listening to fellow musicians who had just come out with new music a day prior. “Haute & Freddy, Robyn, and Raye filled my birthday with their beautiful new albums,” Gaga revealed in a TikTok post.

“Had the best time listening and relaxing with Michael as we wind down The Mayhem Ball,” the Poker Face hitmaker added, referring to her ongoing Mayhem Ball Tour set to conclude on April 13 at Madison Square Garden.

“Thank you Michael for making my birthday so so special, I love you,” she gushed over Polansky.

“May the birthday month begin… Thank you monsters for all your beyond kind messages. Growing up w you is something I will always cherish,” Gaga concluded.

In addition to her tour, the 16-time Grammy-winner has had an eventful past year. Back in February, she joined Bad Bunny on the Super Bowl halftime show stage for a record-breaking concert.

Earlier this month, Gaga revealed that she and Polansky plan on tying the knot “soon” after spending the past year travelling. The couple have been dating since 2020 and got engaged in April 2024. 





Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Who Is Scott Mills? BBC Radio 2 host fired over ‘personal conduct’

Published

on

Who Is Scott Mills? BBC Radio 2 host fired over ‘personal conduct’


Scott Mills, one of the BBC’s most familiar voices, has been sacked from Radio 2 following allegations about his personal conduct.

The BBC confirmed he is “no longer contracted to work with the BBC,” though declined to provide further details.

The 53-year-old had only recently taken over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025.

He quickly grew the audience to 6.5 million listeners, making it the UK’s most listened to morning program.

His departure came suddenly, with colleagues and listeners learning of the news after Gary Davies stepped in to host the show the morning after Mills signed off with a casual “Back tomorrow.”

Mills has been a fixture at the BBC for more than 25 years, beginning at Radio 1 in 1998 where he became a staple of the weekday schedule and later hosted the Official Chart.

He moved to Radio 2 in 2022, replacing Steve Wright in the afternoon slot, before being promoted to breakfast host.

Alongside radio, Mills has appeared on television, providing Eurovision commentary, competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

He made cameos in dramas such as Casualty and soaps like Hollyoaks.

He also won Celebrity Race Across the World in 2024.

According to the BBC, Mills was listed as the corporation’s 11th highest paid star.

His sudden dismissal has shocked colleagues and audiences alike, with BBC director of music Lorna Clarke acknowledging in an internal email that the news would be “sudden and unexpected.”

For now, Mills’ future in broadcasting remains uncertain, but his decades long career across radio and television has cemented him as one of Britain’s most recognizable presenters.





Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Extended Interview: Stars of "Cats: The Jellicle Ball"

Published

on

Extended Interview: Stars of "Cats: The Jellicle Ball"



Mo Rocca sits down with Tony Award-winner André De Shields, Ken Ard, Junior LaBeija and Leiomy, who star in “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.”



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending