Indo-Pak match | Empty stands not good advertisement for cricket’s greatest rivalry

Colombo's Premadasa Stadium saw few spectators at the India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4 match, despite the local administrators expecting a good turnout. Price reductions failed to attract fans, possibly due to rain predictions and speculation of a venue shift.

The electrifying atmosphere that makes a cricket match between India and Pakistan a pulsating spectacle was absent during their Asia Cup Super 4 match in Colombo on September 10.

The spectators once again stayed away from one of the most storied cricketing rivalries despite it being a weekend, just as it was the case during the Indo-Pak league match at Pallekele.

The organisers were expecting to see a good turnout as Colombo has a good representation of Indians and Pakistanis.

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In fact, back in 2012, during the World T20 game between the same teams, the Premadasa Stadium was jam-packed. As it has been in Mirpur, Melbourne, Adelaide, Dubai, Birmingham, London or Manchester throughout the better part of the last decade.

The local administrators were understandably disappointed despite them not having any financial stake in the match, as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is the official host.

"With the rain staying away, we were expecting a good turnout. But tickets are still available offline and online. In fact, the ticket rate too has been slashed but we are yet to see a big rush. Hopefully, it will pick up," said an SLC official.