Ind vs SA T20I: Black marketing suspected in Barabati Stadium tickets

With just days to go for the India vs South Africa T20I clash in Cuttack, excitement among cricket fans across Odisha has reached a crescendo. The hosts will take on the Proteas in the first match of the five-game T20I series at the Barabati Stadium on December 9, and the demand for tickets has skyrocketed.

However, ahead of the official ticket sale, concerns over suspected black marketing have surfaced. Purported photographs circulating on social media suggest that gallery tickets priced at Rs 700 are being offered unofficially for as high as Rs 6,000. Reports also claim that complimentary tickets worth ₹1,100 are allegedly being sold for similar inflated rates across online platforms.

What has raised eyebrows is the fact that the offline ticket sale is scheduled to begin tomorrow, yet images of tickets are already making rounds on the internet. It is still unclear whether these viral tickets are authentic or fake, but fans believe the situation demands immediate scrutiny.

Also Read: Ind vs SA T20 at Cuttack Barabati: Offline ticket sale to begin on Dec 5; serpentine barricades to manage crowd

According to sources, tickets for Gallery No. 1 and Gallery No. 3 are among the ones widely circulated online. The source of these tickets remains unknown, prompting cricket lovers to demand a thorough investigation. Allegations of black marketing are not new to major events at Barabati, and many feel strict action is long overdue.

Meanwhile, the Commissionerate Police has set up steel barricades and strengthened arrangements for smooth offline ticket distribution. Despite the rising suspicion, Cuttack DCP has refuted the possibility of black marketing, assuring that the police IT cell is closely monitoring online activity to track illegal transactions.

The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), however, is yet to release a formal clarification regarding the viral ticket images.

As anticipation builds for the high-voltage encounter, fans now await not just the match but also answers on whether ticket black marketing is again overshadowing a major cricketing event in the State.